Jun 13, 2022 County Council Regular Session

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:09]

AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER ON MONDAY, JUNE 13TH.

>> WOULD THE CALL TO COUNCIL PLEASE CONDUCT THE ROLL CALL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL

MEMBERS PRESENT AND HAVE A QUORUM TO CONDUCT BUSINESS? >> KAREN BASS, MATT I AM HERE.

>> VISE CHAIRMAN SOMERVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER. >> COUNCIL MEMBER HARVISON MR.

HER VERSION IS ON MUTE. >> HE'S ON MUTE BUT HE'S A MEMBER RODMAN HERE THERE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER HOWARD HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON THARP LOST IN HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCGOWAN. HERE COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON. COUNCIL MEMBER FLOOR YELLING.

>> LINE COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM PRESIDENT. >> WE HAVE A QUORUM.

>> OKAY MR. HERBERT SHOWN YOU NOW CAN INDICATE THAT YOU ARE PRESENT.

OKAY. >> PUBLIC NOTICE OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. WOULD YOU ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN

PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION? >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. ANCIENT THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON IS NOT HERE THIS EVENING SO I WILL BE CONDUCTING THE INVOCATION.

>> LORD GOD YOU ARE THE BUILDER OF ALL THINGS. PLEASE HELP GUIDE US IN THIS MEETING. HELP US TO COME UP WITH EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES THAT CAN ENABLE US TO MOVE FORWARD AS A TEAM IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. HELP US TO GENERATE GOOD PLANS THAT ARE PRACTICAL, SUSTAINABLE AND EASILY IMPLEMENTED. GUIDE US TOWARD THE BEST WAY TO TAKE ACTION TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS. HELP US TO TACKLE ALL THE TOPICS WE NEED TO DISCUSS. COME UP WITH EXCELLENT SOLUTIONS AND LEAVE THIS MEETING INSPIRED. AND ON TIME A MAN NAMED THANK YOU.

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

APPROVE TONIGHT'S COUNCIL AGENDA. >> SO MOVE.

MR. CHAIRMAN. MR. MCKELLEN MAKES THE MOTION. >> SECOND LOGAN.

LOGAN. OK, WELL MIKE MAKES THE SECOND I'M LOOKING PAST YOU CAN USE OK

MOTION AND SECONDED. >> THE AGENDA WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES- April 25, 2022]

THANK YOU. DOOLEY MOTIONED AND SECONDED THE MEETING.

>> THE MINUTES OF THAT MEETING WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO

[6. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]

YES. YES. SENATOR DAVIS, HOW ARE YOU? ALL RIGHT. THANKS. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS. IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE ADDRESSED YOU AND THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT HAVE TRANSPIRED IN RECENT WEEKS MONTHS AND I WANTED TO BRING YOU UP TO DATE AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE. FIRST THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT ON FRIDAY EVENING THE SENATE AND HOUSE CONFEREES IN REGARD TO THE BUDGET REACHED AN AGREEMENT. THE SPREADSHEETS BECAME AVAILABLE.

I WAS A PART OF WORKING OUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE CONFEREES WERE GRAPPLING WITH.

ONE REPORT ON SOME THINGS THAT I THINK OUR PARTICULAR RHETORIC YOU GUYS UP HERE THERE WAS ABOUT ONE POINT TWO BILLION DOLLARS IN NEW RECURRING REVENUES IN THE GENERAL FUND

THIS YEAR ABOUT RECURRING REVENUES AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW. >> THESE ARE DOLLARS THAT THE BCA, THE BOARD OF ECONOMIC ADVISORS EXPECTS TO RECUR YEAR AFTER YEAR.

THEY'RE NOT ONETIME MONEYS. AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS IS FUND RECURRING OBLIGATIONS WITH RECURRING FUNDS. YOU NEVER WANT TO FUND A RECURRING OBLIGATION WITH ONE TIME MONEY THAT JUST CREATES AN ANALYZATION THAT YOU WORRY ABOUT ENSUING YEAR. SO OF THAT ONE POINT TWO BILLION DOLLARS A NEW RECURRING REVENUES HERE HERE'S WHERE THE NEW MONEY WENT OK ABOVE BEYOND LAST YEAR'S BASE BUDGET TWO

[00:05:06]

IT'S BY FAR THE LARGEST APPROPRIATION ITEM IN THE BUDGET AND AMONG OTHER THINGS IT PROVIDES FOR A MINIMUM OF A 4000 DOLLAR INCREASE IN TEACHER STARTING SALARIES.

>> WHAT IT ALSO DOES IN AN ASSOCIATED PROVISO IS IT GIVES THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS MORE AUTHORITY IN REGARD TO HOW TO SPEND THIS ADDITIONAL MONEY AND THE EXISTING APPROPRIATION. I MEAN HISTORICALLY WHAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS DONE IS THEY FUNDED K THROUGH 12 THROUGH THESE SILOS AND THEY SAY YOU HAVE TO SPEND ON THESE CERTAIN THINGS. SO COUPLED WITH THIS 280 MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE IN RECURRING MONEY IS CUTTING OF THOSE STRINGS.

AND SO THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE FREE TO ALLOCATE THE MONEY THE WAY THEY THINK IS MOST EFFICIENT IF THEY THINK THEY NEED TO ALLOCATE MORE MONEY TOWARD TEACHER SALARIES.

THEY CAN DO SO. THEY NEED TO DO IT FOR SOME OTHER PURPOSE.

THEY HAD THAT FLEXIBILITY AS WELL. THE SECOND THING WE DID WITH THE RECURRING MONEY SECRETARY HALL, THE SCADA SECRETARY TOLD HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAD TO APPROPRIATE OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS ON A RECURRING BASIS IN ORDER TO FULLY DRAW DOWN ALL THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY THAT GOT PASSED LAST YEAR.

YOU HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND THE DOLLARS.

WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS IN ORDER FOR THE STATES TO FULLY ACCESS THE PORTION OF THAT FEDERAL MONEY THAT'S ALLOCATED TO THEIR STATE ,YOU'VE GOT TO PUT UP A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF STATE MONEY AS WELL. WE DID THAT.

WE PUT UP ONE HUNDRED TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS OF NEW RECURRING GENERAL FUND MONEY FOR ROAD PROJECTS AND THAT'S IN ADDITION TO ALL THE GAS TAX REVENUES THEY RECEIVE.

WE LAYERED THAT 120 MILLION DOLLARS RECURRING ON TOP IMPORTANTLY FOR US.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS I 95 WIDENING AND REPAVING FROM THE GEORGIA SOUTH KIND OF LINE TO THE WALTER BARROW EXITS IS FULLY FUNDED. OK.

SO THAT IS FULLY FUNDED. THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES ARE BEING CONDUCTED.

THE RIGHTS OF WAY HAVE BEEN REQUIRED. THE CHALLENGE NOW THAT HAS BEEN FULLY FUNDED AND PLANNED AND MITIGATED IS ACTUALLY GETTING A ROAD CONTRACTOR THAT WILL START THE WORK AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE WITH ALL THE MONEY THAT'S BEEN FLOODING THE PUBLIC SECTOR FOR ROAD PROJECTS. THE DEMAND FOR ROAD CONTRACTORS IS THROUGH THE ROOF.

AND SO RIGHT NOW THE PROJECTED START DATE TO ACTUALLY START PAVING AND WIDENING AND ACTUALLY THE PUBLIC SEEING THE IMPROVEMENTS AND I'M 95 WON'T INCUR UNTIL LATE NEXT YEAR.

OK. THAT'S BECAUSE NOT BECAUSE THE MONEY IN THERE NOT BECAUSE THE PLANS AREN'T DONE UP BECAUSE IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF A GREAT MITIGATION HAD BEEN DONE IT'S BECAUSE THE ROAD CONTRACTORS THE WORKED IS JUST PILED UP. HOWEVER, TALKING TO SECRETARY HALL, HOPEFULLY THAT BOTTLENECK OVER TIME GOES AWAY AS CONTRACTORS START TO STAFF UP, HIRE MORE CONTRACTORS MAYBE WE CAN MOVE THAT START DATE ON NINETY FIVE EXPANSION AND REPAVING A LITTLE BIT SOONER THAN THAT. WE'VE ALSO TAKEN A LARGE CHUNK OF THAT MONEY 710 MILLION DOLLARS TO BE EXACT TO LOWER THE TOP MARGINAL INCOME TAX RATE IMMEDIATELY FROM SEVEN PERCENT TO SIX POINT FIVE PERCENT.

IT ALSO FULLY EXEMPTS MILITARY RETIREMENT INCOME FROM STATE INCOME TAXES.

SO LIKE OUR SISTER STATES OF NORTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA VETERANS, OUR RETIRED MILITARY PERSONNEL IN SOUTH CAROLINA, THEY WILL NOT HAVE THEIR RETIREMENT INCOME SUBJECT TO THE STATE INCOME TAX. THAT WAS ALSO A PRIORITY ITEM. WE ALSO TOOK ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ADD THAT NEW RECURRING MONEY TO LOWER THE MANUFACTURING PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT RATIO FROM 9 PERCENT DOWN TO 6 PERCENT. AS YOU'LL RECALL A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WE TOOK IT FROM TEN POINT FIVE PERCENT ASSESSMENT RATIO DOWN TO 9 PERCENT. THIS HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS THAT BEING DEDICATED ON A RECURRING BASIS WE'LL TAKE IT FROM NINE DOWN SIX PERCENT. THE REASON FOR THAT IS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE LARGE CORPORATIONS HAVE THE ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE FEE IN LIEU OF TAXATION AGREEMENTS WITH COUNTY COUNCIL SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO BEAR THE BRUNT OF THAT HIGH ASSESSMENT RATIO. BUT BUT MUCH SMALLER BUSINESSES, THOSE THAT ARE MANUFACTURERS DIDN'T HAVE THAT ABILITY. SO LOWERING IT FROM 9 TO 6 REALLY MAKES SOUTH CAROLINA A MORE ATTRACTIVE PLACE NOT JUST NECESSARILY FOR THE LARGE CORPORATIONS THAT CAN NEGOTIATE FELOS BUT FOR THE SMALLER MANUFACTURERS AS WELL.

SO YOU TAKE THAT MONEY FOR THE FOR THE RECURRING INCOME TAX CUT FROM SEVEN TO SIX POINT FIVE PERCENT TOP MARGINAL RATE. HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TO LOWER THE MANUFACTURING ASSETS RATIO FROM 9 TO 6 120 MILLION DOLLARS RECURRING TO DRAW DOWN FULLY THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY AND THEN 280 MILLION DOLLARS RECURRING THROUGH PUBLIC K THROUGH 12.

[00:10:03]

>> THAT ADDS UP TO THE ONE POINT TWO BILLION DOLLARS IN NEW RECURRING MONEY.

OK. SO THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WHAT OUR PRIORITIES WERE IN THE BUDGET. IN ADDITION TO THE RECURRING MONEY THIS YEAR WE HAD THREE POINT SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS IN NEW NON-RECURRING MONEY AND NON-RECURRING MONEY OF COURSE BY DEFINITION AS MONEY THAT YOU DON'T EXPECT TO RECEIVE YEAR AFTER YEAR IT'S ONE TIME MONEY

FROM ONE TIME SOURCES. >> AND SO IT'S BEST TO MARRY THAT UP WITH ONE TIME EXPENSES AND OF THAT THREE POINT SEVEN BILLION IN NON-RECURRING REVENUE.

THIS IS WHAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS DONE AND THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT NOW I'LL GO BACK ON MY WEDNESDAY ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO VOTE ON THIS CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT TO ADOPT IT IF IT'S ADOPTED AND I EXPECT IT WILL BE IT GETS SENT TO THE GOVERNOR. THE GOVERNOR THEN HAS FIVE DAYS IN WHICH TO VETO ANY ITEMS HE WANTS TO VETO. WELL THEN GO BACK ON JUNE 28 TO TAKE UP ANY BUDGET VETO.

SO I SHOULD HAVE I SHOULD HAVE MADE THOSE COMMENTS AT THE VERY BEGINNING.

BUT OF THAT THREE POINT SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS IN NEW NON-RECURRING MONEY, A BILLION DOLLAR IS TAKEN AND PUT INTO A CONTINGENCY RESERVE FUND NOT SPENT NOT APPROPRIATE AT ALL.

IT'S AND ABOVE AND BEYOND THE GENERAL RESERVE AND ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CAPITAL RESERVE WHICH ARE ALSO CUSHIONS AGAINST SHORTFALLS. THIS ONE BILLION DOLLARS IS LAYERED ON TOP OF THAT AS A CONTINGENCY RESERVE IF TODAY'S MARKET IS ANY INDICATION THEY MAY BE IN FOR SOME CHOPPY WATERS IN THE ECONOMY IN IN YEARS TO COME.

SO THE DETERMINATION WAS MADE NOT TO SPEND ALL THAT RECURRING MONEY BUT TO SET ASIDE A

BILLION OF IT AND PUT IT IN A CONTINGENCY RESERVE FUND. >> SO WHAT WE'LL HAVE NOW IS A GENERAL RESERVE FUND A CAPITAL RESERVE FUND AND IT CONTINUES A RESERVE FUND PUTTING IN SOUTH

CAROLINA. >> I THINK IN AMONG THE 50 STATES PROBABLY THE MOST TANGIBLE POSITION IN CASE THERE'S AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. AND I THINK THAT WAS A REALLY RESPONSIBLE THING FOR GENERAL SALMON TO DO ANOTHER BILLION DOLLARS OF THAT ONE TIME MONEY IS BEING REBATED BACK TO TAXPAYERS AND THOSE WHO PAID INCOME TAXES AND IT'LL BE

REBATED ON A PRO-RATA BASIS. >> SO IF YOU THINK IN TERMS OF A FRACTION THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF INCOME TAX PAID AS A DENOMINATOR, AN INDIVIDUAL'S INCOME TAX PAID AS A NUMERATOR THAT WILL BE YOUR PERCENTAGE OF THAT ONE BILLION DOLLARS THAT'S TO BE REBATED SUBJECT HOWEVER TO AN EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLAR PER TAXPAYER CAP. SO IF YOU HAVE A HIGH INCOME TAX YOU KNOW OBLIGATE LIABILITY THAT YOU PAID AND YOU MIGHT GET THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS BACK PURSUANT TO THAT FORMULA YOU'RE CAPPED OUT AT AT EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS.

THE THINKING THERE IS IN A YEAR WHERE WE HAVE THREE POINT SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS SETTING ASIDE A BILLION DOLLARS FOR A RAINY DAY GIVING A BILLION DOLLARS BACK TO PEOPLE RIGHT NOW MANY OF WHOM ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET STRUCK AS BEING THE REASONABLE THING TO DO.

>> ADDITIONALLY ON TOP OF THE TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY MILLION DOLLARS RECURRING NEW MONEY FOR K THROUGH 12 THAT I TALKED ABOUT. WE ALSO PUT ANOTHER THREE HUNDRED FIVE MILLION OF ONE TIME MONEY INTO THE BUDGET FOR SCHOOLS FOR K THROUGH 12 THAT ONE TIME MONEY AGAIN IS PASSED DOWN TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR EXPENDITURE BUT IT'S THE HOPE THAT THEY'LL SPEND THAT ONE TIME MONEY ON ONE TIME MEANS THAT THEY WON'T USE THAT MONEY 3 AND 5 MILLION DOLLARS WITH ONE TIME MONEY TO PAY FOR RECURRING THINGS LIKE

TEACHER SALARIES. >> SO AGAIN HOPEFULLY THEY'LL USE THE 280 RECURRING FOR THAT BUT THE THREE HUNDRED FIVE MILLION OF NON-RECURRING IS FOR ONE TIME EXPENSES THAT K THROUGH 12 MAY HAVE. IN ADDITION TO THAT THERE'S ANOTHER 250 MILLION DOLLARS PUT ON TOP OF THE C FUNDS THE CTC FUNDS THESE ARE THE DOLLARS THAT COME DOWN TO YOU GUYS FOR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT DECIDE HOW TO SPEND ON ROAD PROJECTS. SO IN ADDITION TO THE MONEY COMING FROM THE D.A. IN ADDITION TO THE C FUNDS ORDINARY THERE'S LAYERED ON TOP OF THAT AN ACCELERATION CTC FUND OF 250 MILLION DOLLARS AGAIN ONE PRIORITIES IN THIS BUDGET THE TWO MAIN PRIORITIES IN THIS BUDGET WERE TEACHERS K THROUGH 12 ROADS AND THEN SETTING ASIDE MONEY FOR A RAINY DAY AND GIVING MONEY BACK TO TAXPAYERS.

SO THOSE ARE SORT OF THE PRIORITY HERE AND THAT BEARS ON THAT.

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY OF THE 2015 DOLLARS PUT INTO THE CTC FUND AND OF COURSE THAT'S ALLOCATED TO THE COUNTIES ON A FORMULA BASIS I THINK IT HAVE TO DO WITH THE GEOGRAPHIC SQUARE MILES OF A COUNTY AND THE POPULATION OF THE COUNTY. AND THEN THAT DATA IS THEN USED IN A FORMULA TO ALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS. AND SO SO THOSE ARE MONIES THAT ARE COMING DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEVEL FOR EXPENDITURE. THERE'S ALSO ON TOP OF ALL THAT IN TERMS OF ONE TIME MONEY ONE HUNDRED THIRTY FOUR MILLION DOLLARS FOR INTERSTATE FUNDING.

AGAIN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR INTERSTATE SYSTEM IS NOT ONLY FULLY FUNDED IN TURN BUT TRY TO GET ENOUGH MONEY THERE TO WHERE WE CAN GET CONTRACTORS TO DO THE WORK.

OK. WE'RE DOING NINETY FIVE TWENTY SIX I-20 I 85 YOU KNOW I'D 77

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SO A 10 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF STATE FUNDS COMING DOWN FOR K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION IN ADDITION THAT USCCB WE GOT THEM UP TO 100 PERCENT FUNDING PARITY.

I MEAN A FEW YEARS AGO OR OR WHEN I FIRST TOOK OFFICE 14 YEARS AGO USCCB WAS FUNDED AT 38 PERCENT OF THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE. AND YOU GUYS WILL RECALL YOU SUPPLEMENTED A LOT OF THEIR BUDGET. YOU HAD TO BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T GETTING THE MONEY FROM THE STATE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. THEY'RE NOW FUNDED AT ONE HUNDRED PERCENT PARITY WITH EVERY OTHER UNIVERSITY. IT'S ON A PER PUPIL BASIS.

READING OUT OF THE SAME AS EVERY OTHER UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE THROUGHOUT SAY THE SOUTH CAROLINA. IN ADDITION TO THAT WE GOT THEM AT 18 MILLION DOLLAR ONE TIME APPROPRIATION TO HELP THEM PAY FOR THEIR CONVOCATION CENTER AND ALSO TO PAY FOR CERTAIN UPGRADES AND MAINTENANCE THAT THEY NEED ON THEIR EXISTING FACILITIES.

SO THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF A CAPITAL REQUEST AND IN TERMS OF OF WHAT THE DELEGATION WAS PUSHING FOR . THAT WAS ONE OF THE TOP THINGS

AND WE GOT A PRETTY GOOD CHUNK OF IT. >> SECONDLY, IN REGARD TO THE HILTON AND NOW AN AIRPORT, WE'VE GOT A 12 MILLION DOLLAR APPROPRIATION FROM THE STATE FOR THE NEW I GUESS THE NEW TERMINAL THAT YOU WANT AT HILTON HEAD AIRPORT.

I THINK THAT MONEY THEN COUPLED WITH THE FAA HAS COMMITTED COUPLED WITH WHAT THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL HAS COMMITTED. I THINK YOU MAY BE ALMOST THERE .

I'M NOT SURE I HAVEN'T SUMMED UP ALL THIS FIGURE IS A LOT OF YOU MAY BE MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE EXACT DOLLAR AMOUNTS. OF COURSE PRICES HAVE GONE UP SINCE THE INITIAL ESTIMATES BUT IN WORKING WITH JOHN RAMBLED WHO'S THE DIRECTOR OUT THERE, I THINK WE'RE GETTING US A PRETTY PRETTY GOOD STEP ALONG THE WAY THEY ARE TOWARD GETTING IT FULLY FUNDED PCL WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING SEVEN MILLION DOLLAR APPROPRIATION FOR THEIR WORKFORCE CENTER THAT

THAT THEY'VE BEEN PUSHING FOR FIVE MILLION DOLLARS. >> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'M REALLY PLEASED ABOUT ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO HELPED HAD ONE OF THE FLASHPOINTS IN REGARD TO THE NEW HIGHWAY 270 CORRIDOR HAS BEEN THE IMPACT TO THE NORTH END OF THE AISLE AND THE HISTORIC THE HISTORIC NATIVE ISLANDERS BEARING THE BRUNT OF IT.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD HAS COME UP WITH AND WORKING WITH BEFORE COUNTY COUNCIL AS WELL IS THE CREATION OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN THE NORTH END OF THE ISLAND FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMING UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH ON PRESERVING THAT CULTURAL IDENTITY. WE'VE GOT A FIVE MILLION DOLLAR APPROPRIATION AS SEED MONEY FOR THAT STONEY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. AND SO THAT IS IT ALSO IMPORTANTLY NOT ONLY HAS THAT FUNDING BUT IT REALLY FOCUSES, YOU KNOW, COUNTY COUNCIL TOWN COUNCIL STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, EVEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ATTENTION ON AN AREA THAT NEEDS ASSISTANCE AND GIVES A VEHICLE THROUGH WHICH ASSISTANCE CAN BE GIVEN. SO YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT MITIGATING THE IMPACT THOSE COMMUNITIES BUT REALLY NO FOCAL POINT ON WHERE TO DIRECT OUR ENERGIES, OUR TIME AND OUR TREASURE. SO NOT ONLY DOES THIS VEHICLE PROVIDE FOR THE FIVE MILLION DOLLARS IN STATE FUNDING BUT GOING FORWARD IT GIVES US A WAY TO MAKE A CASE FOR OTHER APPROPRIATION REQUESTS ONE POINT TWO MILLION DOLLAR APPROPRIATION TO MITCHELL VILLE ONE POINT TWO FIVE MILLION OUT ON HIGHLAND TWO MILLION DOLLARS

FOR PENN CENTER. >> THERE WAS OTHER MONEYS FOR THE BEAUFORT SHERIFF'S OFFICE BLUFFTON POLICE FORCE THE SPANISH MOSS TRAILS CROSSING AT RIBAUT ROAD.

OUR DELEGATION YOU KNOW AND IT'S REALLY NOT PART OF BEING A STATE SENATOR THAT I LIKE BUT YOU GOTTA GET IN THE TRENCHES ONCE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IS DETERMINED HOW MUCH YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND ONCE YOU FIGURE OUT THE MONEY YOU'RE GOING TO SET ASIDE, ONCE YOU FIGURE OUT THE MONEY YOU'RE GOING TO USE FOR A TAX CUT. ONCE YOU FIGURED OUT THE MONEY YOU'RE GOING TO REBATE BACK TO TAXPAYERS AND YOU GET TO A NET DOLLAR AMOUNT YOU GOT TO GET IN THERE AND ADVOCATE FOR YOUR FOR YOUR COUNTY AND OUR DELEGATION HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN MY OPINION OF DOING THAT. WE'RE WELL-POSITIONED TO DO IT. I'VE GOT TWO MEMBERS ON ON WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND SHANNON ERICKSON AND BILL KURZMAN. WE'VE GOT WEST NEWTON WHO'S CHAIRMAN OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. I'M ON THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT QUITE BACK TO THE DAYS OF JIMMY WADDELL

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>> THE FIRST IS A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THAT IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DRAFTED THAT TALKS ABOUT THE TOWN AND COUNTY WORKING TOGETHER ON THE FINAL VERSION OF THE PLAN OR THE CHANGES TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED, THE EXTENT THAT THEY COULD BE FUNDED THAT

HAVE BEEN REQUESTED BY THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD. >> AND I THINK IT'S IT'S HELPFUL TO HAVE THAT SPIRIT OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TOWN COUNTY REDUCED TO A MEMORANDUM SO THAT NOT ONLY THE TWO COUNCILS CAN WORK TOGETHER IN A COHERENT WAY BUT SO THE PUBLIC CAN SEE BOTH THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY ROWING THE SAME DIRECTION.

SO THAT'S THE FIRST MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. AND AGAIN THIS RESULT OF A LOT OF HARD WORK BETWEEN MARK ORLANDO AT THE TOWN ERIC GREENWAY AND THE COUNTY TO PASS JUDGMENT WITH THE COUNTY. JOHN MCCANN THE TOWN I MEAN SO I'M NOT THE MEAN RECITING YOU AS SOMETHING THAT I DID. I'M TRYING TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE I THINK THE TOWN IN THE COUNTY ARE. I THINK THAT'S HELPFUL. THE SECOND WOULD BE IN REGARD TO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY TO TO TO COORDINATE THEIR RESPECTIVE TRAFFIC OPTIMIZATION STUDIES. I MEAN THERE ARE STUDIES OR MONEYS THAT I THINK THE COUNTY COUNCIL HAS SET ASIDE ON HOW TO OPTIMIZE TRAFFIC SEXUALIZATION TO ENSURE A MORE EFFICIENT MOVEMENT OF TRAFFIC. I KNOW THE TOWN ALSO HAS MONEY SET ASIDE FOR THAT PURPOSE BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE TWO STUDIES NEED TO BE COORDINATED OR SYNCHRONIZED AS IT WERE KNOW ONE RELIES ON A CERTAIN SET OF DATA THE OTHER A DIFFERENT SET OF DATA. AGAIN, MR. GREENWAY AND MR. ORLANDO DOING A GOOD JOB OF COMING UP A PROPOSAL TO MERGE THE TWO SO THAT YOU HAVE A STUDY OF TRAFFIC MOVEMENTS ON THE ENTIRETY HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND THEN GOING OUT TO THE MAINLAND.

>> OUT TO THE BUCK WALTER INTERSECTION. AND THE REASON THAT'S IMPORTANT TO BE DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS OVERALL HIGHWAY 278 CODE OUR PROJECT IS I THINK THAT THE EFFICIENT MOVEMENT OR THE IMPROVED MOVEMENT OF CARS AS A RESULT OF THAT OPTIMIZATION OF SIGNALS WILL PAIR PLAY A ROLE IN THE FINAL DECISIONS ON HOW YOU WANT THIS

TO 78 CORRIDOR TO LOOK. >> OK, SO SO YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S THE IDEA.

AND THEN THE THIRD THING OF COURSE IS IN REGARD TO THE THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION THAT WE GOT THE FIVE MILLION OUR STATE APPROPRIATION FOR.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE COUNTY HAS AN INTEREST IN ASSISTING THE TOWN WITH THAT.

AND SO THAT'S I'VE BEEN ASSIGNED THAT TASK OF DRAFTING THE FIRST SHOT AT THAT WILL THEN CIRCULATE IT TO THE COUNTY AND THE TOWN. YOU GUYS WILL THEN OF COURSE DO YOU WANT WITH IT BECAUSE IT'S YOUR WORK PRODUCT. BUT THOSE THREE THINGS MOVING TOGETHER IN TERMS OF THE DESIGN OF THE BRIDGE TO TRY TO GET WHAT THE TOWN HAS REQUESTED IN REGARD TO THE MITIGATION ARE TO THE OPTIMIZATION OF TRAFFIC SEXUALIZATION AND IN REGARD TO THE MITIGATION TO THE STONEY COMMUNITY THOSE THREE THINGS ARE MOVING IN TANDEM.

>> THAT SENDS A VERY STRONG MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC THAT THEY'RE BEING HEARD AND THAT ALL COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES AND UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF THIS PROJECT ARE BEING CONSIDERED.

THEN THE LAST THING I WANTED TO MENTION TO YOU FOR PURPOSES OF YOU TO CONSIDER IS AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS I THINK GENERALLY A FEW MONTHS AGO BUT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN CONCERNED NOT ALWAYS BEEN CONCERNED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS BEING CONCERNED AT THE LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH THAT'S OCCURRING IN BEAUFORT COUNTY AND IN PARTICULAR SOUTHERN.

>> AND THE NUMBERS ARE SIMPLY STAGGERING AND I CONCLUDE WITH THAT SOUTHERN JASPER COUNTY TOO BECAUSE THAT'S INCREASINGLY BECOMING A PART AND PARCEL OF WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY. YOU KNOW THE GROWTH EFFECTS IRRESPECTIVE OF COUNTY LINES BUT JUST A FEW DATA POINTS FOR YOU FOR YOU TO CONSIDER BETWEEN 2010 AND 2020.

>> THE TOWN OF HARDY VILLE EXPERIENCED A TWO HUNDRED TWELVE PERCENT INCREASE IN POPULATION SAME PERIOD BLUFFTON INCREASED BY ONE HUNDRED FIFTY SIX PERCENT IN TERMS OF OF BLUFFTON ITSELF WHICH IS REALLY WHERE MOST OF THE GROWTH OF THE CRIME IN 2001 WAS 1 SQUARE MILE

[00:25:07]

OF THE ROOFTOPS. >> YOU THINK YOU HAVE PROBLEMS NOW WITH TRAFFIC, YOU THINK YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH FECAL COLIFORM ON THE RIVER. YOU THINK YOU'VE GOT ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS IN THE ENVIRONMENT. IMAGINE THE DOUBLING OF DENSITY IN 15 YEARS IN SOUTHERN BEAUFORT AND SOUTHERN JASPER COUNTY. I SAY ALL THAT TO SAY THIS AS YOU GUYS GRAPPLE WITH HOW DO WE ADDRESS THIS? AND EVERYBODY GETS FRUSTRATED WITH TRAFFIC. EVERYBODY GETS FRUSTRATED WITH WAITING IN LINE.

>> I MEAN I ALLOW AN HOUR AND FORTY FIVE MINUTES TO GET TO HILTON HEAD WHEREAS FIVE

MINUTES THAT'S THE WAY THAT IT IS. >> AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING TONIGHT ROAD IMPROVEMENTS AND A LOT OF HARD WORK HAS BEEN PUT INTO THAT BY

DEAN MOSS AND HIS COMMITTEE. >> I KNOW THOSE GUYS. I KNOW THEIR PUBLIC SPIRITEDNESS. I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THEY HAVE PRESENTED TO YOU SOMETHING

THAT IS RESPONSIBLE. >> BUT WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK IN TERMS OF IS IN ADDRESSING THAT PROBLEM WITH GROWTH DON'T FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY ON MORE ROADS, BETTER ROADS,

WATER, ROADS. >> I DON'T THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM YOU CAN PAVE YOUR WAY OUT OF . THERE HAS GOT TO BE A COMPONENT OF THIS THAT INVOLVES BUYING THOSE DENSITIES PROACTIVELY GOING INTO DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS AND PLUGS AND BUYING UP DENSITIES FROM MARKET VALUE FROM DEVELOPERS BUYING UP UNDEVELOPED TRACT LAND TRACTS OF LAND AS WELL. I WAS HERE ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND MR. COOL OR THE COOLER FAMILY HAD A TRACT OF LAND. NINETY ACRES THAT'S RIGHT NEXT TO OIL FIELD NEAR THAT CURVE WHERE 462 IS AND HE WAS THERE WANTING TO TRIPLE THE DENSITY THAT HE'S CURRENTLY ALLOWED AND I KNOW WHY HE'S ASKING FOR THAT BECAUSE OTHERS HAVE GOT IT IN THE AREA AND IN FAIRNESS TO THE COOLER FAMILY, THEY'VE HAD THIS LAND IN THEIR FAMILY FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS AND SO WHY

SHOULDN'T THEY GET TRIPLE THE DENSITY? >> BUT IF WE KEEP HAVING THAT MENTALITY AND YOU KEEP BRINGING NINETY ACRE TRACKS, 100 ACRE TRACTS, 200 ACRE TRACKS AND YOU DEVELOP THEM AT THREE TO FOUR UNITS PER ACRE, WE'RE RAPIDLY RUINING THE THING THAT MOST

OF US HERE TO BEGIN WITH. >> WE'RE NOT SOLVING THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM.

WE'RE CREATING A NIGHTMARE IN TERMS AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM. AND SO WHAT I DID AND GOT PASSED THIS YEAR WAS A LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX A LOCAL OPTION PANTING THAT WOULD ALLOW THE COUNTY COUNCIL TO SUBMIT TO THE VOTERS FOR APPROVAL FOR REFERENDUM UP TO ONE PENNY SALES TAX A NEW PRO RATA PIECES OUT IT BUT UP TO ONE PENNY SALES TAX TO GENERATE INCOME THAT INCOME COULD THEN BE LEVERAGED TO AMARA TIES BONDS, BONDS AND THEN COULD BE ISSUED TO AGGRESSIVELY GO OUT THERE AND BUY UP DENSITIES, BUY UP OPEN SPACE, YOU KNOW AND TO DO THESE CRITICAL THINGS THAT I THINK NEED TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A DEBATE NOW IN REGARD TO TWO ROAD PROJECTS AND I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE UNDER SOMEWHAT CROSS BECAUSE AT SOME POINT I THINK BY AUGUST OR MID-AUGUST YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT TO THE STATE WHICH YOU INTEND TO DO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO TONIGHT BY POINTING THIS OUT BUT BY GETTING THAT LAW PASSED IS START A CONVERSATION ABOUT IS THERE ANY CHANCE OF PRO THAT PENNY FOR ROADS AND HAVING A

PORTION OF DESIGNED TO OPEN SPACE AND GREEN SPACE. >> I NOT ONLY THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO BUT I THINK IT MAKES IT MUCH MORE LIKELY THAT THIS MIGHT GET APPROVED BY THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER IF THAT'S COUPLED WITH THIS. THIS COUNTY HAS A HISTORY OF APPROVING RURAL AND CRITICAL LAND BONDS FOR INSTANCE BY 70 TO 75 PERCENT.

OK, SO PEOPLE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY IF YOU MAKE THE CASE TO THEM ABOUT THE NEED FOR CONTROL AND GROWTH ARE BUYING UP DENSITIES OR BUYING UP OPEN SPACE, THEY'LL RESPOND TO THAT.

OK. NOW. THE RIGHT THING TO DO BECAUSE IT APPEALS TO THEIR ECONOMIC SELF-INTEREST THAT MAINTAINS THE VALUE OF THEIR PROPERTY.

SO AND I DON'T ENVY YOU GUYS AT ALL BECAUSE THIS IS PROBABLY THE WORST TIME POSSIBLE TO BE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING A LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX BEFORE PEOPLE FOR CONSIDERATION.

I MEAN PEOPLE ARE HURTING. GAS TAXES ARE HIGH. GROCERY PRICES ARE HIGH.

THE ONE THING I POINT OUT IS A LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX WOULD NOT AFFECT GASOLINE WOULD NOT AFFECT GROCERIES. BUT STILL IT'S GOING TO PINCH POCKETBOOKS AND IT'S GOING TO BE HARD. THE DIFFICULTY IS IF YOU WAIT TWO YEARS TO DO THE GREEN SPACE REFERENDUM, THE HORSE IS OUT OF THE BARN. YOU CAN SEE RIGHT NOW DRIVING DOWN 1 7 AND DOWN TO 78. YOU CAN SEE BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES HUNDREDS OF ACRES BEING CLEAR CUT AND DEVELOPMENT GOING IN. IT'S HAPPENING BEFORE OUR EYES AND I FEAR IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING THIS NOVEMBER ABOUT THIS, I FEAR IT'LL BE TOO LATE.

[00:30:01]

QUESTIONS. I'LL GO TAKE JESSE, OK? >> THE M.O. USE HAVE BEEN SENT TO YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. OK. THEY WERE SENT BEFORE.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM TO HILTON HEAD SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THEM AND HAVE

INPUT. >> SO IF YOU WILL DO THAT AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN THEN WE CAN GET IT TO THEM AND SAY OK, HERE WERE YOUR COMMENTS AND MOVE IT AS QUICKLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

AND YES, WE WILL HAVE THAT DISCUSSION OF HOW WE CAN MELD THE TWO TOGETHER.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING IN LIFE. >> WE CAN'T WAIT MUCH LONGER. WE KNOW THAT THE ROADS ARE TERRIBLE THE WAY THE COMMITTEE CAME UP WITH THINGS. IT'S NOT NEW ROADS.

IT'S A NEW WAY OF TAKING A LOOK AT OUR ROAD SYSTEM. HOW CAN WE MITIGATE THE TIME THAT'S TRAVELED ON THE SYSTEM? DO WE NEED TO REPAY? DO WE NEED TO WIDEN? DO WE NEED TO MAKE DIFFERENT TERMS? THE SIGNAL IZATION ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE COME ABOUT THERE AS WELL AS MONEY SET ASIDE TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. AND THAT IS BUYING UP THE DENSITIES ON SOME OF THESE TRACKS SO THAT WE'RE RIGHT ON THE SAME PAGE. COUNCIL MEMBERS ANYTHING AT THE DAIS THAT YOU WOULD ASK OF THE SENATOR BEFORE I GO ONLINE? SHOULD OK, MR. GLOVER SHOULD.

>> SENATOR, I APPRECIATE COMMENTS YOU MADE. I WILL TELL YOU THAT I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID SO I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH WHAT YOU SAID.

PARTICULAR WHEN IT COMES OUT IN THE GREEN SPACE BECAUSE I'M AN ADVOCATE OF GREEN SPACES.

WELL BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT THE RETIRED DIRECTOR FOR THE COAST CONSERVATION DISTRICT, DALE BEACH WARNED US THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING AND BE FREE, MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT TRAFFIC FLOW AND DON'T GET CAUGHT UP LIKE CHARLESTON HAS DONE. WELL, YOU GET TRAFFIC JUST SITTING THERE SO THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN THE BACK OF MY MIND. BUT I AGREE WITH GREEN SPACE AND I WOULD LOVE TO BUY AIR THE GREEN SPACE AND IF YOU DO THAT WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION.

GREAT POINTS, GLOVER. >> LET ME BE VERY FRANK. WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING HERE AS WELL IS IS GOING INTO THESE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS AND INTO PARTS AND BUYING UP DENSITIES THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND AND AND AND THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A HARDER SELL, RIGHT. BECAUSE IT'S ONE THING TO POINT TO A PIECE OF LAND THAT YOU BOUGHT AND PRESERVE. THAT'S ANOTHER TO SAY WE'VE GONE AHEAD AND BOUGHT UP DENSITIES AND NO LONGER IS GOING TO BE 3 PER ACRE. IT'S GONNA BE TWO PER ACRE.

THAT'S A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO SELL TO THE PUBLIC AS BEING SOMETHING IT'S THERE.

BUT BUT IT'S TO THE HAND THE HAND WE'VE BEEN DEALT. >> RIGHT.

BUT I WANT TO GO TO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE NON-RECURRING FUNDS AND YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE CTC.

THEY RESTRICTION ON FUNDING BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I RECOGNIZED THAT THE STATE DOES IS A GIVEN. GIVE IT TO YOU TO TAKE IT BACK. I'M TELLING YOU YOU'VE GOT TO GET CERTAIN THINGS. SO ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTION ON THESE? NOT NOT IN REGARD TO THE STATE FUNDS THAT WILL DO THAT TO YOU AND OTHER AREAS THAT YOU LOVE.

MR REDMAN, YOU WERE NOT. SENATOR, I DON'T THINK YOU WERE VERY SENSITIVE TO A LOT OF THE PRIORITIES WE SET UP QUITE SOME TIME BACK TICKLER. I THINK THE COMMUNITY WILL BE WELL SERVED. WHAT YOU DID FOR USCCB AND FOR TWO ALL IN THOSE EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND PART OF THE CITIZENS FOR THAT IT WOULD HAVE SOME VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO DO ON OUR ANYONE ELSE ON THE NURSE MISSILE.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU TWO FOR REFERENDUM TO INTRODUCE TO PRESERVE AND BUYBACK DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS AND ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR ALL THAT YOU AND THE DELEGATION FOR ALL THE TEACHERS AND EDUCATION IN THE STATE

OF SOUTH CAROLINA. >> YEAH. AND THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME, MISS HOWARD. I SHOULD EMPHASIZE THAT THE DELEGATION REALLY WORKS AS A TEAM UP THERE. I MEAN THE BUDGET STARTS IN THE HOUSE.

WE HAVE EXCELLENT REPRESENTATION IN THE HOUSE. I MENTIONED WESTERN BILL SHANNON MICHAEL JEFF THAT COMES OVER THE SENATE. I MEAN WE REALLY WORK AS A TEAM. THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT I FOCUS ON CERTAIN THINGS THAT BILL WESTERN SHANNON JEFF FOCUS ON. BUT BUT I REALLY AM PROUD OF THE FACT THAT THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY ISN'T BEING TREATED DISPROPORTIONATELY BAD AS IT WAS AND MANY OF YOU CAN REMEMBER, YOU KNOW HOW WE USED TO BEG FOR SCRAPS.

I MEAN WE'RE AT THE TABLE NOW OR BEING TREATED FAIRLY. ANYONE ONLINE?

[00:35:04]

YOU. >> HAS ANYTHING BEEN BOOKED DOWN THE ROAD USER?

YEAH. >> HE'S REFERRING TO THE TO THE ROAD USER FEE THAT WAS DECLARED BY THE SACKING OF STATE SUPREME COURT TO BE AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL PHASE AND IT WAS AT THE GREENVILLE COUNTY CASE. BUT GIVEN THAT DECISION THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CLASS ACTIONS NOW HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST A LOT OF OTHER COUNTIES I THINK BEFORE COUNTY AMONG THEM SEEKING A RECOVERY OF THESE USER FEES. THERE HAS BEEN LEGISLATION THAT IS IN A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW. IN FACT I SERVE ON THAT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AND WE'LL BE DECIDING ON WEDNESDAY MORNING THAT WOULD TAKE AWAY THAT LAWSUIT THAT WOULD SAY TO THE COUNTIES RETROACTIVELY YOU DID SPEND THIS MONEY IN ACCORDANCE AND DID SPEND IT PROPERLY. IF NOT, THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TAXPAYERS THE PEOPLE THAT PAY THE ROADS FEES SUING TAXPAYERS, THE

COUNTY FOR MONEY. >> WE'RE THE ONLY ONE REALLY MAKING OUT BEING THE ATTORNEYS IN THE MIDDLE WHO ARE GOING TO GET A THIRD OF THE OVERALL AWARD.

I MEAN THIS IS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND IN SOME INSTANCES NOT ONLY IN MYRTLE BEACH AND CHARLESTON BEAUFORT COUNTY BUT SOME RURAL COUNTIES THAT RELIED UPON THESE THESE THESE ROAD FEES I MEAN THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO JACK THEIR TAXES AND THE AN ACT 388 ALLOWS AN INCREASE IN THE MILLAGE IN EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THIS. SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE I MEAN I MEAN I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE IN YOUR SHOES WITH THIS JUDGMENT COMES DOWN AND YOU END UP DOUBLING OR TRIPLING PEOPLE'S PROPERTY TAXES FOR A PERIOD OF TIME TO PAY OFF THIS LAWSUIT SUPPORT.

ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. I THINK WE CAN GET IT OUT OF OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WITH THE RETROACTIVE LANGUAGE IN THERE. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES AND ALSO WITH THE ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY OF MYRTLE BEACH BECAUSE THEIR OFFICE IS GONNA GET GORED

LIKE NOBODY IS. >> AND SO HE'S BEEN REALLY KIND OF IN THERE WITH US HELPING US.

I'LL KNOW BETTER ON WEDNESDAY WHEN THE CONFERENCE REPORT GETS FINALIZED AND THEN SUBMITTED TO THE TWO CHAMBERS FOR APPROVAL. I DON'T HAVE ANY INDICATION ON WHETHER OR NOT GOVERNOR MCMASTER WOULD SIGN OR VETO IT. BUT BUT AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT IT IN THE WAY THAT I'VE JUST SAID THAT WHAT YOU HAVE HERE ARE TAXPAYERS SUING TAXPAYERS AND THE ONLY PEOPLE MAKING OUT REALLY ARE THE ATTORNEYS IN THE MIDDLE. I'VE GOT TO THINK HE'D SIGN IT

WITH OK. >> WELL, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

I APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS. >> APPRECIATE ALL YOUR SERVICE.

MR. GREENLEE, HOW ARE YOU? >> ALL RIGHT. YEAH, I'M GOOD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD COUNSEL. AS A PART OF MY REPORT, THREE THINGS ARE BITS OF INFORMATION THAT NEED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW. TODAY WE RECEIVED OUR SECOND TRANCHE OF THE ARPA FUNDING SO WE RECEIVED OUR FULL FUNDING NOW.

THIRTY SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS DAYS. DISTRIBUTION WAS EIGHTEEN POINT SIX MILLION DOLLARS. SO WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ARPA PLAN THAT YOU ALL HAVE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED AND WE'LL BE BRINGING IN FOURTH THOSE ITEMS THAT REQUIRE YOUR APPROVAL IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. THE SECOND THING GIVEN TO SENATOR DAVIS, HIS COMMENT ABOUT THE AIRPORT I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO THE DELEGATION FOR

PROVIDING THAT FUNDING, VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT. >> WE DO HAVE BEDS OUT.

WE SOLICITATION OUT FOR BIDS THOSE BIDS OR DUE ON JUNE 20 3RD BACK IN AND THAT WAY WE WILL KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST US TO DO THAT EXPANSION AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT LEVEL OF FUNDING WE NEED TO COME UP WITH IF ANY AS A RESULT OF THAT.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I MIGHT ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THIS EVENING.

>> IN ADDITION TO THE ALLOCATION THAT THE STATE MADE FOR ROAD CROSSING FOR THE SPANISH MOSS TRAIL, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MR. MAULE AND THE SPANISH MOSS TRAIL REPRESENTATIVES HAVE PUT TOGETHER ABOUT SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO DO THAT

CROSSING. >> THEY ARE ASKING AND I'M ASKING YOU ALL ONE OF YOU ALL TONIGHT TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE BUDGET ON SECOND READING FOR AN ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION OF FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO PROVIDE THE OMEN EVEN MILLION TO HELP FACILITATE THAT CROSSING. SO IF YOU ALL WOULD CONSIDER THAT, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. AND THEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ALWAYS DO THAT I'M GOING TO DO IF YOU WILL INDULGE ME FOR A FEW MINUTES LONGER IS I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE FOUR EMPLOYEES.

THE FIRST ONE IS A NEW EMPLOYEE THAT JUST STARTED TODAY. MORGAN, COME ON AROUND.

>> IN MY CAREER I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH A LOT OF FOLKS, HIRE A LOT OF FOLKS, BRINGING A LOT OF FOLKS ON BOARD NON THAT I'VE EVER WORKED WITH AND HIRED.

[00:40:04]

SHE DOES NOT WORK FOR A COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. SHE IS ONE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES AS COUNTY COUNCIL WHO WORKS AT CLARK COUNSEL'S OFFICE WITH BRENNA AND MISS BROCK.

SARA HIRED HER, FOUND HER, WE INTERVIEWED HER AND ARE EXCITED TO HAVE ON BOARD.

BUT HERE'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER BACKGROUND. SHE HAS A BACHELOR MARKS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND ART HISTORY FROM JORDAN'S GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY GRADUATED IN 2018. SHE WAS TOLD SHE WOULD NOT GET ACCEPTED BUT SHE DID GET ACCEPTED AND EARNED A MASTER OF ARTS LAW AND DIPLOMACY FROM THE FLETCHER SCHOOL.

AT TUFTS UNIVERSITY IN 2021 DURING HER TIME IN COLLEGE SHE INTERNED WITH THE POLAR INSTITUTE, THE WILSON CENTER IN WASHINGTON, D.C. DOING ALL KINDS OF ENVIRONMENTAL THINGS FOR THE POLAR INSTITUTE. THEN SHE INTERNED ALTHOUGH SHE WAS A GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT AT THE FLETCHER SCHOOL AT TUFTS UNIVERSITY. DURING HER TIME THERE SHE TAUGHT SELECTED ISSUES IN LAW OF THE SEA GLOBAL MARITIME AFFAIRS AND MARITIME SECURITY.

>> SHE WAS ALSO A GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSOCIATE AT THE FLETCHER SCHOOL WITH TUFTS UNIVERSITY. SHE LED EXPLORATORY RESEARCH FOR A SERIES OF MONOGRAPH PUBLICATIONS ON GLOBAL MARITIME SECURITY AND POLLUTION RESPONSE CHALLENGES.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS BUT THAT JUST SOUNDS IMPRESSIVE.

>> IMPRESSIVE. AND THEN A ADDITION TO ALL OF THAT.

SHE ALSO INTERNED WITH THE U.S. EMBASSY UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE IN BUDAPEST

DURING HER COLLEGE DAYS AS WELL. >> SUE MORGAN, WELCOME.

>> SARA. YOU KNOW HOW IMPRESSED I AM WITH YOU AND THE RELATIONSHIP.

SO GREAT JOB TO BOTH OF YOU ALL. YOU WON'T SAY A FEW WORDS

BEFORE I PROCEED. >> I'LL JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR THE INTRODUCTION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU. THANK YOU.

>> AS ALWAYS, ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS ABOUT MY JOB IS IS THIS POINT IN COUNTLESS MEETINGS I'D BEEN ABLE TO INTRODUCE EMPLOYEES. THIS PERSON STANDING BESIDE ME.

I DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH HER TO REALLY KNOW HER UNTIL I BECAME ACTING COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND EVERY TIME I GO IN REGISTERED D OFFICE SHE ALWAYS HAS A SMILE.

SHE ALWAYS HAS A PLEASANT DEMEANOR AND I'M PROUD TO GET TO WORK WITH HER.

SO THIS IS ROBERTA BEING SHE IS A REAL PROPERTY RECORDING TECHNICIAN IN THE REGISTERED REGISTRY OF DEEDS OFFICE. SHE HAS BEEN EMPLOYED IN BEAUFORT COUNTY SINCE 1991.

SHE WORKS AT THE FRONT DESK AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE RESEARCH AND RECORDING OF DEEDS DOING THAT SERVICE FOR US. HER MOTTO IS THAT EVERY CUSTOMER SHOULD LEAVE COMPLETELY SATISFIED WITH A SMILE. WORK SHOULD ALWAYS REFLECT EFFICIENCY AND PROFESSIONAL WISDOM TO DEVELOP A GREAT RAPPORT WITH CUSTOMERS.

SHE IS MARRIED TO HARRY BEING AND HE WAS HERE. HE LEFT SO I DON'T KNOW.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE SOMETIMES MYSELF. THEY'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR 31 YEARS AND IN THE COURSE OF THAT MARRIAGE THEY HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TWO SONS CHRISTOPHER AND

JOSHUA, A DAUGHTER. >> MONET AND THREE HANDSOME GRANDSONS ROMAN CAMERON AND ZION. SO I THINK I'M SUPPOSED TO TURN NOW WITH YOU SO THEY CAN TAKE A

PICTURE. >> AND NOW I WANT TO GIVE HER ALL LET YOU SPEAK TO THEM AND

THEN WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. >> ALL RIGHT.

>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE A COUNTY EMPLOYEE AND TO ALSO BE WORKING AS A CLERK IN THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OFFICE.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT AND A THANK YOU TO ALL MY BOSSES THAT I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITHIN THE REGISTER OF THESE OFFICE WHICH INCLUDES MISS THERESA MORRIS, MR. JACK SULLIVAN, MR. DALE BUTZ AND NOW MY PRESENT BOSS MISS PATSY

GREEN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> OUR SECOND EMPLOYEE TONIGHT

IS NOT WITH US BUT WE DO HAVE A PICTURE OF HER. >> SHE WORKS ST. HOME AT THE

[00:45:01]

SHE HAS WORKED VERY SYSTEM AND BRIEF ACCOUNTING FOR 16 YEARS. SHE STARTED OUT IN 2006 AS A LIBRARY ASSISTANT WHERE OUR DAILY TASKS INCLUDED CHECKING MATERIALS IN AND OUT, ISSUING NEW LIBRARY CARDS, LOCATING ITEMS TO BE SENT TO OTHER LIBRARIES.

SHE WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR LIBRARY ASSISTANT IN 2016 AT THE ST. HELENA LIBRARY BRANCH LIBRARY WHERE SHE ASSISTS THE YOUTH SERVICE TO STAFF WITH CHILDREN'S PROGRAMING.

SHE REGULARLY FACILITATE POPULAR AND INTERACTIVE STORY TIME AND CRAFT OUR GLORIOUS PASSION ABOUT HELPING BUILD GOOD LITERACY SKILLS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

CHILDREN AND HOPES THAT THESE SKILLS WILL TRANSLATE INTO A LOVE OF READING AND LIFELONG LEARNING. LORI IS A MOM OF FOUR GROWN CHILDREN AND A GRANDMOTHER

OF FOUR GRANDCHILDREN WHOM SHE DOTES ON WHOLEHEARTEDLY. >> LORI HOPES TO ONE DAY HAVE THE TIME AND RESOURCES TO FULFILL HER DREAMS ARE TRAVELING AROUND THE WORLD SO

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE LIBRARY AND TO THE COUNTY. >> LORI ALICE.

GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AS THIS I MAY NOT GET THIS STORY OUT.

>> OK, SO JUST BEAR WITH ME A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WHEN I READ IT TODAY I BECAME VERY EMOTIONAL. YOU MIGHT EVEN HAVE TO TELL THIS STORY.

>> BUT THIS IS SARAH. >> SARAH KATHY. SHE WAS WITH OUR M.S.

DEPARTMENT AS A PARAMEDIC. SHE'S BEEN WITH US FOR SEVEN YEARS.

SARAH IS YOUNG NIECE IS SUFFERING FROM RENAL FAILURE AT JUST THREE YEARS OLD WHEN

HARDNESS REQUIRES EXTENSIVE MEDICAL CARE AND DIALYSIS. >> A YEAR AGO SARAH VOLUNTEERED TO DONATE HER KIDNEY TO HER NIECE SO THAT SHE WOULD HAVE THE BEST QUALITY OF LIFE POSSIBLE. DOCTORS TOLD SARAH THAT SHE COULD NOT DONATE DUE TO HER PHYSICAL WEIGHT AND CONDITION AND THAT IT SIMPLY WASN'T POSSIBLE.

IN ONE YEAR'S TIME SARAH LOST ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO POUNDS OUT OF DETERMINATION AND LOVE. SHE WORKED COUNTLESS HOURS, VOLUNTEERED FRUITY AND ASSISTED WITH TRAINING. NEW EMPLOYEES ALL WANT DRAMATICALLY CHALLENGING HURT LIVES CHANGING HER LIFESTYLE. SHE LOST 10 POUNDS A MONTH FOR A YEAR AND BEAT THE ODDS STACKED AGAINST HER. SHE IS A MATCH FOR HER AND AND SHE IS NOW ELIGIBLE TO DONATE A KIDNEY AS AN NOW SARAH AND HER KNEES ARE WAITING FOR CERTAIN LAB VALUES AND CONDITIONS TO BE RIGHT AND THEY HAVE BEEN PREPARING TO SCHEDULE HER SURGERY.

>> SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COUNTY AND FOR WHAT YOU FACE EVERY DAY IN THE JOB THAT YOU DO.

>> AND I'M SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET A PICTURE LATER AS AS I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK

YOU FOR LETTING MY STORY. >> BEARD I THOROUGHLY ENJOY SERVING YOU FOR COUNTY AS A PARAMEDIC. I TRULY LOVE MY JOB. I HELP STRANGERS EVERY DAY SO IT FEELS REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO HELP MY FAMILY MEMBER. CURRENTLY WE DO HAVE A SURGERY DATE SO JULY 6TH IS WHAT IT'S LOOKING LIKE. SO FINGERS CROSSED EVERYTHING

GOES THROUGH AND I APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU.

[7. PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNE 19TH - JUNE 25TH AS NATIONAL MOSQUITO CONTROL AWARENESS WEEK.]

>> AS THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> NEXT TIME OUR LIST IS A PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNE THE 19TH THROUGH JUNE THE 25TH. AS NATIONAL MOSQUITO CONTROL AWARENESS WEEK, MR MCKELLEN A VERY TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW THAT LITTLE BOY 0 FOUGHT THROUGH A

THEY'RE ALL GONE. >> OK, SO THIS IS A PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL MOSQUITO CONTROL AWARENESS WEEK WHEREAS MOSQUITOES CAN DIMINISH ENJOYMENT OF THE OUTDOORS.

PUBLIC PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS IMPEDE OUTSIDE WORK AND REDUCE PROPERTY VALUES WHEREAS MOSQUITO BORNE DISEASES HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN A SOURCE OF HUMAN AND ANIMAL SUFFERING ILLNESS AND EVEN DEATH WHEREAS THE PUBLIC'S AWARENESS OF THE VARIOUS MOSQUITO CONTROL STRATEGIES WILL MOTIVATE RESIDENTS TO ELIMINATE STANDING WATER ON THEIR PROPERTIES.

[00:50:05]

WORDS OR JUST A FEW A FEW. >> I TRIED TO GET THEM TO PUT ALL OF THE MOSQUITO SPECIES WE

HAVE ON HERE BUT THEY THEY WOULDN'T DO IT. >> SO ON BEHALF BEAUFORT COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MCKELLEN AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR RECOGNIZING NATIONAL MOSQUITO CONTROL AWARENESS WEEK. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEIR RESIDENTS OF COUNTY FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR PROGRAM OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS . SO JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT

NATIONAL MOSQUITO CONTROL AWARENESS WEEK. >> SO IT BEGAN FORMALLY IN 1998 AS A WAY TO NOT ONLY BRING NATIONAL AWARENESS TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE DISEASES THAT MOSQUITOES CAN CARRY BUT ALSO ABOUT THE EFFORTS THAT MOSQUITO CONTROL PROFESSIONALS AROUND THE COUNTRY TAKE PART IN EVERY DAY TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM MOSQUITO BORNE DISEASES MOSQUITO BITES. THIS WAS SERENDIPITOUS BECAUSE THE 1999.

THE VERY NEXT YEAR WEST NILE VIRUS FIRST SHOWED UP IN THE UNITED STATES.

IN THREE YEARS IT SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AND AS WE ALL KNOW IT'S HERE TO STAY. SO NATIONAL MOSQUITO CONTROL AWARENESS WEEK IS ALSO ABOUT EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO TO PREVENT MOSQUITO BITES AND TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM MOSQUITOES. SO I WOULD PROBABLY LOSE MY NATIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP IF I DIDN'T MENTION THE 3D OF MOSQUITO PROTECTION WHICH IS DRAINED DRESS AND DEFEND SO DRAIN ANY STANDING WATER AROUND YOUR PROPERTY IF YOU CAN WEAR LIGHT COLORED LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING TO PROTECT FROM MOSQUITO BITES AND WHERE ANY EPA APPROVED INSECT REPELLENT.

SO THAT'S ONE OF OUR MAIN GOALS FOR NATIONAL MOSQUITO CONTROL WHERE DOES NOT ONLY BRING AWARENESS TO OURSELVES AND EVERYTHING WE DO BEHIND THE SCENES THAT THE PUBLIC MIGHT NOT SEE THE OTHER 90 PERCENT THAT YOU DON'T SEE. ASIDE FROM THE AIRPLANE YOU SEE YOU KNOW SEE FREQUENTLY THE TRUCKS AS THE DISEASE TESTING IT'S THE TREATMENT OF MOSQUITO LARVAE, IT'S THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC. IT'S EVERYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES AND WE HAVE A FANTASTIC TEAM AT BEAUFORT KIND OF MOSQUITO CONTROL AND I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THIS PROCLAMATION AND THIS RECOGNITION OF THIS THIS COMES

UP NEXT WEEK. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

AS OK, WE'RE NOW AT THE CITIZEN COMMENTS. WE HAVE A 15 MINUTE SESSION FOR

[8. CITIZEN COMMENTS]

OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE DIDN'T LISTEN TO THE INVOCATION ABOUT. WE'RE GOING TO DO WONDERFUL THINGS TODAY AND GET OUT OF HERE ON TIME. SO THERE IS A BUNCH OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET AND JESSE, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE. SO SINCE YOU'RE THE LONE WOLF FOR ANYTHING BUT THE BUDGET WOULDN'T GIVE YOU YOUR THREE MINUTES NOW. THANK YOU, JESSE.

YOU WAIT ON BEHALF OF THE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE AND IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BUDGET BUT IT IS ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE IS ON YOUR AGENDA AND SOMETHING THAT SENATOR DAVIS ACTUALLY JUST SPOKE ABOUT IN HIS PRESENTATION. IT'S NO SECRET THAT WE'RE GROWING AND BEFORE IT AND AND JASPER AND WE'RE GROWING RAPIDLY AND WE'RE ALL FEELING THOSE GROWING PAINS FROM TRAFFIC CONGESTION ALONG OUR REGIONAL CORRIDORS TO THE LOSS OF WILD AND OPEN SPACES TO EVEN TEMPORARY RESTRICTIONS OF WATER USAGE.

>> EVERY DAY MORE AND MORE TREES ARE BEING CUT DOWN TO MAKE WAY FOR MORE ROOFTOPS AND PAVEMENT AND THAT CONVERSION OF TREE CANOPY FEES AND LOSS OF GREEN SPACE TO IMPERVIOUS SURFACE HAS SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. ATTEMPTS TO ACCOMMODATE THIS NEW GROWTH BY LARGE TRACT UP SOUNDINGS AND PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTS AND ROAD WIDENING ONLY EXACERBATE THOSE GROWING PAINS. THEY ADD MORE STRAIN TO OUR REGIONAL NETWORKS, OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

FORTUNATELY WITH THE THANKS TO THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR LOCAL SENATOR, THERE'S A NEWS NEW

[00:55:04]

AND THAT'S THE COUNTY GREEN SPACE SALES TAX ACT. WE APPRECIATE THAT THE PROPOSED 20 TWENTY TWO YEAR TRANSPORTATION PENNY SETS ASIDE GREENBELT FUNDING.

HOWEVER BY ADDING MORE ROADS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT CONSUME ARE ALREADY DWINDLING GREEN SPACES AND ATTRACT MORE CARS TO OUR ROADS. THE TRANSPORTATION PENNY INHERENTLY WORKS AGAINST ITSELF . ON THE CONTRARY, A GREEN SPACE PENNY ADDRESSES RAPID DEVELOPMENT ISSUES AT THEIR ROOT AND WOULD GENERATE ENOUGH CONSERVATION REVENUE TO KEEP PACE WITH THE REGION'S GROWTH PRESSURES AND ADD A SCALE TO MAKE A REAL IMPACT. WE ALSO HAVE CONCERN WITH THE DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THE GREENBELT FUNDING AND THE 2022 PENNY BEING INSUFFICIENT AND THERE NOT BEING ENOUGH STRUCTURE ABOUT HOW IT WILL BE SPENT. WE'RE FAST APPROACHING A TIPPING POINT IN OUR LOW COUNTRY REGION AND IF WE'RE NOT WILLING TO AND STEPS IN TO MEET THESE GROWTH DEMANDS WITH REAL SOLUTIONS WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THE CHARISMATIC OPEN SPACES FORESTS, ESTUARIES AND QUALITY OF LIFE THAT DEFINE WHAT DEFINE US AND WHAT DRAW SO MANY PEOPLE TO VISIT.

>> WE BELIEVE A GREEN SPACE PENNY IS THE BEST SOLUTION TO MORE EFFECTIVELY AND IMMEDIATELY OFFSET THE IMPACTS OF GROWTH AND OVERDEVELOPMENT. FOR THESE REASONS WE REQUEST THAT COUNTY CONSIDER PRIORITIZING AND PURSUING THE GREEN SPACE PENNY OR A COMBINATION OF THAT PENNY WITH ROADS. PENNY THANK YOU.

>> OK. >> WE HAVE SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET WHEN YOU COME FORWARD PLEASE ADDRESS THE CHAIR AS BRIEF AS YOU CAN.

BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO GET EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS IN BUT WE DO HAVE AN AGENDA THAT WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH AND TWO ITEMS WILL HAVE QUITE A BIT OF DIALOG BY COUNCIL.

SO KAREN, WOULD YOU COME UP FIRST? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

MY NAME IS KAREN ERWIN. I AM A MATH TEACHER AND MY BOSS COACH BEAUFORT HIGH SCHOOL.

BEFORE I START I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO GET TO A BUDGET THAT IS TRYING TO CATCH UP TO THE OTHER COUNTIES IN OUR STATE BUT ALSO THE OTHER STATES IN OUR COUNTRY. I WANT YOU TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY SIX YEAR IN MY SIX YEARS AT BEAUFORT HIGH TOP 13 IN HOUSTON.

BEFORE THAT WE HAVE STARTED WITH A FULL MATH DEPARTMENT STAFF FOUR YEARS, TWO YEARS.

WE HAVE STARTED WITHOUT A FULL STAFF FOR YEARS. ONE OF THOSE YEARS WAS THIS PAST YEAR AND WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH TWO TEACHERS HAD TO BE RECRUITED AND ENTICED BY ANOTHER HIGH SCHOOL BY BY TEACHER BONUSES, HIGHER SALARY AND A MATCHING RETIREMENT PLAN.

>> SO I'VE ACTUALLY ONLY BEEN THERE ONE YEAR WHEN WE ACTUALLY STARTED WITH A FULL MATH DEPARTMENT. ONE YEAR WE WERE WAITING ON THREE TEACHERS FROM THE PHILIPPINES THAT NEVER CAME. OBVIOUSLY THIS MEANS ALL CLASSES ARE LARGER.

IT ALSO MEANS THAT TYPICALLY THE CLASSES ARE CANCELED AND STUDENTS ARE PUT IN RANDOM OTHER CLASSES THAT DON'T MEET THEIR NEEDS. A LOT OF TIMES THESE CLASSES ARE YOUR HONORS AND YOUR AP CLASSES. SO AND THIS PAST YEAR WE HAD MANY CLASSES THAT WERE TAUGHT BY COMPUTER. NOW IMAGINE LEARNING ALGEBRA ANY OF THE ALGEBRA IS BY COMPUTER WITHOUT A TEACHER WITHOUT A TEACHER.

THE LAST TIME I LOOKED WE WERE STILL DOWN TO POSITIONS FOR NEXT YEAR BUT WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY HIRED TWO. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES THAT ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO GET ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS AT FULL STAFF. BUT WITH SITUATIONS LIKE THESE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ATTRACT STRONG TEACHERS TO KEEP STRONG TEACHERS.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP CONSISTENCY OF CURRICULUM. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO TEACH 35 TO 45 STUDENTS NOT ONLY ACADEMICALLY BUT ALL OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT WE COME ACROSS NOW. SO I URGE YOU TO PASS THE SECOND READING OF THE BUDGET.

>> LET'S RECRUIT AND KEEP THE BEST TEACHERS THAT WE CAN TO BRING OUR COUNTY TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. THANK YOU. DAWN AS LEGALLY SAID, I AM DON

PEEBLES. >> I'M ALSO A TEACHER BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY EVERYTHING THAT KAREN SAID WAS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT AND TO PUT THIS AS SIMPLY IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO ATTRACT THE BEST TEACHERS AND RETAIN THE BEST TEACHER FOR COUNTY, THEN WE'RE

GOING TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PUT UP THE BEST. >> SO THANK YOU FOR EVEN CONSIDERING THIS. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE SO FAR.

[01:00:02]

WELL, WE WILL LOVE YOU REDO SOME MORE. >> CHRIS, GOOD EVENING.

>> GOOD EVENING. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, FOR THE CHANCE TO TALK TO YOU.

MY NAME IS CHRIS MARSH. I'VE BEEN IN FRONT OF THIS COUNCIL FOR QUITE A FEW TIMES ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. THANK YOU, JESSE, FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

BUT TONIGHT I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT AND ENDORSEMENT OF THE LEADERSHIP OF DR. FRANK RODRIGUEZ. ANYTIME YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF MONEY AND HOW IT'S MANAGED PARTICULARLY WITH WHAT SENATOR DAVIS REPORTED THEN HAVING STRONG LEADERSHIP AT THE TOP IS CRITICAL. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 24 YEARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE COME TO TALK ABOUT EDUCATION EVEN THOUGH THAT'S PART OF MY BACKGROUND BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN BOTH A SUPERINTENDENT AND A SCHOOL BOARD ALIGNED.

I'M VERY AWARE WITH ALL THE CONFLICTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE.

I FEEL QUALIFIED TO ENDORSE DR. RODRIGUEZ HIS PERFORMANCE FOR SEVERAL REASONS.

I HAVE WORKED IN TEACHER EDUCATION SCHOOL REFORM IN ADDITION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS OF MY CAREER AS A COLLEGE PROFESSOR AND AS DIRECTOR OF TWO LOCAL NON-PROFITS FROM 94 TO 98. I WAS ONE OF THE 13 STATE REGIONAL DIRECTORS FOR REFORMING MATH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION. SECONDLY, MARRIED TO A TEACHER AND I HAVE LISTENED TO HER FOR MANY YEARS WITH THE CHALLENGES AND THE REASONS WHY THERE'S BURNOUT.

>> AND THIRD NOW I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO HAS COMPLETED HER THIRD YEAR AS ALSO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER AND BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I HAVE SEEN THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN A SHORT TIME BY DR. RODRIGUEZ AND ALSO LISTEN TO HER TALK ABOUT MANY THE THINGS WE DISCUSSED, PARTICULARLY LOSING TEACHERS TO BOTH PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLS TO OTHER AREAS BECAUSE OF THE CHALLENGES OF THE COSTS OF LIVING HERE AS WELL AS THE SALARY. SO WITH THAT I JUST WANT TO END BY SAYING THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION IS THE CORE THAT HELPS KEEP OUR COUNTRY STRONG, PARTICULARLY

OUR COUNTY STRONG AND IT IS THE LEVELER. >> SO THIS IS NOT ABOUT DEGREES AT ALL. THIS IS ABOUT KEEPING BEAUFORT COUNTY THE PLACE WHERE WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF BEING ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

>> WELCOME. APPLAUSE GOOD. HELLO, I'M HEATHER REYNOLDS.

>> I'M ALSO WITH THE BE FOR COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY VOICE TO THE OTHER TEACHERS HERE JUST SAYING HOW MUCH WE WOULD APPRECIATE THE PAY INCREASE. JUST I WANT TO GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE.

WE. THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR. I COMPLETED MY SECOND YEAR TEACHING AT BEAUFORT COUNTY AND WE DECIDED TO BUY A HOUSE. THANKSGIVING WE BUY THE HOUSE.

WE JUST FOUND OUT TODAY THAT IT'S THAT PRICE IF WE WANTED TO BUILD THE HOUSE TODAY IT HAS GONE UP 25 PERCENT. SO TEACHERS ARE FEELING THE PINCH OF THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND

HERE. >> AND I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. WELCOME.

>> AS SARAH EVENING. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS SARAH OWEN AND I HAVE BEEN AN EDUCATOR FOR TWENTY NINE YEARS. TWENTY ONE AND B FOR COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND I'VE LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

HOWEVER, TODAY I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT POTTERY. EACH YEAR IT'S A TRADITION AT OUR SCHOOL TO GIVE A PIECE POTTERY TO A STAFF MEMBER THAT'S LEAVING AND USUALLY WE HAVE ONE OR TWO PIECES TO GIVE OUT EACH YEAR FOR RETIREES PEOPLE MOVE IN OUT OF THE

STATE. >> THIS YEAR I HAD TO PLACE THREE DIFFERENT ORDERS FOR POTTERY TO A TOTAL COVID 19. ONLY ONE OF THOSE STAFF MEMBERS IS WORKING FOR B FOR COUNTY NEXT YEAR. TO MY KNOWLEDGE AND MANY IF NOT MOST ARE MOVING OUT OF THE DISTRICT, OUT OF THE STATE FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS BUT TO INCLUDE THE COST OF LIVING.

TWENTY YEARS AGO I CAME TO THIS AREA ON A WHIM. I WANT TO BE IN A COMMUNITY NEAR THE OCEAN IN A PROGRESSIVE SCHOOL DISTRICT. I CAME HOWEVER HONESTLY BECAUSE BEAUFORT COUNTY CHECKED A BOX IT WAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PAID DISTRICTS IN THE STATE.

>> IT WAS I BELIEVE IT WAS FIRST OR SECOND NOW WE'RE FIFTY THIRD.

SO WHAT I CAN PROMISE YOU IS NO ONE IS GONNA CHECK THE BOX FOR A DISTRICT THAT'S FIFTY THIRD.

SO BEAUFORT COUNTY I AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENTS. WE'RE IN A GREAT POSITION.

[01:05:02]

CONSIDERATION AS AS WARM HERE AGAIN. >> GOOD MORNING.

GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD EVENING. WHATEVER YOU WANT TO SAY.

MY NAME FOREMOST BAROFSKY AND I AM CURRENTLY THE RIVER RIDGE ACADEMY TEACHER OF THE YEAR FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. I HAVE SERVED THIS DISTRICT FOR 18 YEARS NOW AND I HAVE TWO CHILDREN NOW THAT ARE GONNA BE PART OF THE BEEF FOR COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AS BOTH A PARENT AND A TEACHER. I COME TO YOU TONIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SUPPORT THIS BUDGET ORDINANCE FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY TEACHERS WITH AN INCREASE IN WAGES.

COUNTY WOULD BECOME COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE STATE AND INCENTIVIZE NEW TEACHERS TO BE A PART OF OUR DISTRICT. IN ADDITION, AN INCREASE FOR OUR CURRENT TEACHERS WILL CONTINUE TO HELP US AFFORD TO LIVE, WORK AND RAISE OUR FAMILIES HERE IN THE COUNTY THAT WE LOVE SO MUCH IN THIS MOST UNUSUAL AND CHALLENGING

TIME IN HISTORY. >> ALL OF ALL OCCUPATIONS ARE STRUGGLING.

HOWEVER, CURRENTLY IN OUR SCHOOLS THERE ARE TWENTY ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED NINETEEN STUDENTS IN 14 GRADE LEVELS FROM PRE-K TO 12TH GRADE. IF THESE STUDENTS ARE NOT TAUGHT BY THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST CERTIFIED EDUCATORS FOR EACH DAY FOR ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY DAYS THEY WILL FAIL TO REACH THEIR INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL.

THE PARENTS OF RISING STUDENTS AND INCOMING STUDENTS ARE DOING THEIR HOMEWORK.

WE WANT THEM TO CHOOSE US THE SCHOOLS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY BECAUSE WE HAVE THE BEST TEACHERS. IT IS TIME TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE AND INVEST IN OUR EDUCATORS TO TAKE CARE SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OUR TEACHERS SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE

CARE OF OUR STUDENTS. >> THANK YOU AS WELL. OKAY.

[9. LIASION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]

>> WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THIS SESSION OF THE CITIZEN COMMENTS .

WE MUST MOVE ON TO OUR LIAISON AND COMMITTEE REPORTS. WE DO HAVE ITEMS TO DISCUSS THAT YOU WILL SEE AND THEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS US AGAIN AT THE END OF THE MEETING. IS THERE ANYONE WHO HAS A COMMENT FROM A COMMITTEE OR

WANTS TO MAKE A STATEMENT, MISS ALLEN? >> YES, I DO.

ITEMS THE STORMWATER BOARD WILL MEET WEDNESDAY THE 15TH OF JUNE AT 2 O'CLOCK AND I AM LAYERS ON TO THE TCO BOARD AND THEY WILL BE MEETING AT NEW RIVER THIS MONTH ON THE 21ST OF JUNE.

>> THANK ANYONE ELSE. >> IF I COULD MAKE A QUICK STATEMENT.

YEAH, JUST GIVE YOU GUYS AN UPDATE. ONE THING I TALKED ABOUT ABOUT A YEAR AGO WAS ACCESS FOR GOLF CARTS UNDER OUR BIKE PASS AND A WAY TO GO ABOUT DOING THAT FOR COMMUNITIES TO GO FROM NEIGHBORHOOD TO NEIGHBORHOOD TO SCHOOLS, RESTAURANTS, MOVIE THEATERS, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT. WE HAVE BEEN MAKING PROGRESS ON IT. WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO COME UP WITH THE DECALS SYSTEM THAT WOULD HELP FUND THE SIDEWALKS, THE REPAIRS FOR THEM BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE A FUNDING FOR THAT OTHER THAN OUR BUDGET OR FORM OF TAXES. AND THEN ALSO A WAY TO POSSIBLY COME UP WITH A CLASS SLASH VIDEO THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE ONLINE TO BE CERTIFIED TO BUILD A DRIVE ON THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS. SO ABOUT 30 TO 45 DAYS WE SHOULD HAVE AN UPDATE ON THAT TO HOPEFULLY BRING IT TO THE COUNCIL TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT SQUARED AWAY BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR. AND THEN WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND HOPEFULLY OTHERS EVENTUALLY TO SEE IF THEY CAN PUT THAT IN THEIR BUILDING AGREEMENTS FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS TO HAVE GOLF CART ACCESS SO WE CAN KEEP THAT CONNECTIVITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[10. MATTERS ARISING OUT OF CAUCUS EXECUTIVE SESSION]

THE FIRST ITEM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. >> NOW WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING TRYING TO LOCATE THE FIRST KEY FERRY IN A PLACE THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE THINK WE HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS IN THAT REGARD AND THAT WE'RE CLOSING IN ON A SOLUTION. SO I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY THAT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER PURCHASING THOSE PROPERTIES FOR THE PURCHASE OF RELOCATING THE FUSCA ISLAND FERRY SERVICE MOTION.

>> UNLIKE THE MOUNTAINOUS HOWARD MAKES THE SECOND DOOLEY MOTION AND SECOND SINCE YOU MADE THE MOTION, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS THAT YOU WISH TO MAKE?

>> NO, MISS HOWARD? >> NO, SIR. I THINK ONE HURRICANE MATTHEW HIT IT BROUGHT THIS EVEN MORE TO THE FOREFRONT AND THAT'S BEEN SIX YEARS AGO.

SO IT'S TIME TO TAKE ACTION. >> ANY MEMBERS WHO ARE SITTING AT THE YES, I AGREE.

[01:10:05]

>> I THINK IT'S YOU KNOW, WE'VE PROMISED PEOPLE THAT WE WOULD LOOK AT THIS AND FIND PERMANENT SOLUTIONS BUCKINGHAM LANDING FOLKS WHO'VE BEEN VERY PATIENT WITH US.

SO I THINK THIS IS A GOOD STEP FOR US TO START MOVING FORWARD AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST OPTIONS ARE IN ANY OF OUR MEMBERS ONLINE WISH TO MAKE A COMMENT SEEING NUNZIO.

>> YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. TWO THINGS ATTRACT ME TO THIS.

ONE IS IF YOU LOOK BACK IN THE HISTORY OF REALLY THE FIRST GUY IN THE LAST 20 30, 40 YEARS, IT'S MOST DIFFICULT STRUGGLE AND THE FACT THAT HIS PERHAPS FAILED IN MANY RESPECTS IS THAT IT DID NOT HAVE AN ADEQUATE FERRY SYSTEM AND A AN INADEQUATE FERRY SYSTEM IS A FUNCTION OF HAVING THE LANDINGS AT EITHER END. AND I THINK IF WE DO THIS PROPERLY, I THINK IT'LL GO A LONG WAY FOR THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE FIRST KEY AND IT WILL RETURN SEVERAL FOLD IN TAXES WHATEVER IT WILL COST US.

SECONDLY, WE'RE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH SAVANNAH ABOUT CONNECTING SAVANNAH WITH BOTH HILTON HEAD AND FUSCA. AND SO THESE LANDINGS WOULD BE CRITICAL TO HAVING THAT KIND OF A CONNECTION AND OUR HERITAGE. BASICALLY IF YOU LOOK BACK FAR ENOUGH IT WILL ALL THE ISLANDS WERE CONNECTED, YOU KNOW, BY FERRY BOATS AND SO IT'S AN IDEAL PLACE FOR MARINE TRANSPORTATION STRONGLY SUPPORTED MR. CHAIRMAN.

OK. ANY OTHER COMMENTS SAYING NONE OF THIS MOTION WILL BE COMING?

>> IT'S NOT OK. CAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT. I KNOW AGAINST THE LITTLE GREEN

. >> MICROSOFT HAS AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW.

WE NEED TO EXPLORE IT BECAUSE. >> OK. THE MOTION WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION. ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS SEEING NONE THAT MOTION IS APPROVED THE SECOND MOTION. MR. GLOVER WAS SHOWING THIS COUNTY HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE FULL FOR MANY YEARS AND THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BEFORE COUNTY ONLY PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF BEAUFORT TO MAYBE CONSIDER THAT AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> SO A MOVE THAT WE AUTHORIZE AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO THE NEGOTIATE WITH REALER AND REALER PROPERTIES TERMS FOR THE SALE TO COUNTY OWNED PROPERTIES.

>> SIX HUNDRED WILMINGTON STREET AND FOURTEEN OR SEVEN K STREET BOTH OF WHICH MUST BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING WORKFORCE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AS WE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT'S MY MOTIONS JIM. >> VERY GOOD.

MAY WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND EMOTION MRS. HAMMOND MAKES THE SECOND OF ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. MR. GLOVER? NO, I THINK THIS IS THE EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A PROMISE WITH THE GOAL THAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED FOR OURSELVES AND ME PUTTING OUR EFFORT MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

>> SO MISS HOWARD, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? NO, SIR.

>> ANYBODY ON THE COMING IN? >> YEAH, I ALSO DO SUPPORT THIS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THE COUNTY HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE ALL ELEVEN OF US IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER GETTING ON BOARD WITH IT.

YOU GUYS DON'T ALWAYS SEE ALL OF THE DEBATES WE HAVE ABOUT THE WAY WE SHOULD GO ABOUT PROCESS OR HOW TO FOLLOW THROUGH. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN REALLY WORKING WELL TOGETHER LATELY ON. THIS IS HOPEFULLY THE SECOND PROPERTY WE'RE GOING IN THIS DIRECTION AND HOPEFULLY MORE IN THE FUTURE TO CONTINUE HELPING THE WORKFORCE. AND BEFORE COUNTY, ANYBODY ELSE ANYBODY ON LINE NEED TO MAKE A

COMMENT. >> QUESTION CHAIRMAN ME THAT YOU GO FURTHER.

FRANK THAT IS CORRECT. >> NOT TO EVER BE IT IS A 3 1. >> ALL RIGHT.

FRANK CORRECT. >> YES. YEAH.

WE WOULD NEED AN ORDINANCE FOR THAT RIGHT NOW. OK.

OK. SINCE IT WAS DULY MOTION AND SECOND WE'VE HAD A DISCUSSION THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.

[11. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA]

THANK YOU. >> NEXT ITEM IS THE APPROVAL OF THE PERCENTAGE AND I'M A

MEMBER OF COUNCIL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> SO MOVE IS THE CHAIRMAN.

MR RODMAN. I'LL SECOND MR. GLOVER DULY EMOTIONS IN SECONDED.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE FOLLOWING THE CONSENTED GENDER IS ON THE THIRD PAGE.

THERE ARE EIGHT PARTICULAR ITEMS ON THEIR. >> THIS WILL BE APPROVED

[12. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENT, SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2022, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2023 (Part 1 of 2)]

[01:15:07]

SO I NEED MOTION AND A SECOND THAT I WILL ASK FOR PUBLIC INPUT.

WE WILL HAVE A DEBATE AND THEN TAKE A VOTE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DO.

THE SECOND READING OF THE ORDINANCE IN WHEN WHEN I DO THE AMENDMENT TO THAT.

ONCE WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND WE CAN THEN ASK IF ANYBODY WISHES TO AMEND THAT.

I HAVE A SECOND PLEASE SIR. MR. GLOVER. >> OK.

DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED. NOW IF WE CAN ENTERTAIN ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE BUDGET, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO AMEND THE BUDGET AND THE AMOUNT OF FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR

THE SPANISH MOSS TRAILED CROSSING AT RIBAUT ROAD. >> THIS WILL BE MATCHED WITH MONEY FROM THIS FROM THE ESTATE PLUS PRIVATE DONATIONS AND IS THAT THE ONLY THING IN TOWN A PORT OIL SO THERE'LL BE OTHER CONTRIBUTORS TO THAT AMOUNT FOR A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY ONE

MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE TOTAL CROSS. >> MR. LLEWELLYN YOU WILL MAKE THE SECOND THEN, OK. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS AMENDMENT SEEING NONE?

>> THE AMENDMENT WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION. IS THERE ANY OTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE BUDGET THAT WE WISH TO MAKE THIS EVENING? I'D LIKE TO.

YES SIR. I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT ON THE SOLICITOR'S BUDGET. WE'RE MEMBERS IN VIEW FOR COUNTY OF THE 14TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. WHICH INCLUDES BEAUFORT AND HAMPTON JASPER COLLEGE AND ALAN DALE THAT THE JUDICIAL DISTRICT IS THE LARGEST IN THE STATE COVERS THREE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FIFTY SIX SQUARE MILES WHICH IS ACTUALLY TEN PERCENT OF THE LANDMASS OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. SOLICITOR'S OFFICE HAS A BUDGET OF ABOUT FIVE MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES. BEAUFORT COUNTY CONTRIBUTES ONE MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS OF THAT FIVE MILLION IN 2020. BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL BEGAN A PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO THE SOLICITOR TO PROVIDE A ASSISTANCE SOLICITOR TO PROSECUTE WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THE COUNTY.

THE DUI CASES THAT SHOWED UP IN MAGISTRATES COURT WE FUNDED THAT AT ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR IN FISCAL YEAR 20 21 AND 22 FOR A TOTAL OF FIVE HUNDRED AND SIXTY ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE PURPOSE OF THAT WAS TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE TO THE POLICE OFFICERS IN THE COURTROOM TO ASSIST THEM AS THEY DEALT WITH TRAINED DEFENSE ATTORNEYS WHO OFTEN APPEARED TO DEFEND PEOPLE AGAINST THOSE DUI CHARGES.

SO THE TOTAL THAT WE PROVIDED AS I SAID WAS FIVE HUNDRED AND SIXTY ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS OVER

THOSE THREE YEARS AS ABOUT A MONTH AGO. >> DURING DISCUSSIONS HERE I INQUIRED OF THE MAGISTRATES COURT IF THERE WAS A BACKLOG OF WHITE CASES AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY DUI CASES THAT WERE NOT PROSECUTED IN BEAUFORT COUNTY ALONE. SOME GOING AS FAR BACK AS 20 19 ON FRIDAY I CALLED AGAIN AND ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY PROGRESS AND I WAS TOLD IN THE ENSUING FOUR WEEKS THAT 10 CASES HAD BEEN DISPOSED OF . SO BY MY CALCULATIONS THAT WOULD TAKE THREE YEARS FOR US TO PROSECUTE THESE CASES THROUGH THE MAGISTRATES COURT SO LONG AS THERE WERE NO OTHER CASES THAT CITATIONS WERE ISSUED FOR DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

IF WE WERE TO FUND THE REQUEST TO THIS YEAR AT THE SAME AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS WE WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS TO A PROGRAM THAT APPEARS TO ME TO HAVE FAILED. SO I AM SUGGESTING THAT WE WITHDRAW WE REDUCE THE BUDGET BY ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT WAS REQUESTED THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE TOTAL OVERALL BUDGET ONCE AGAIN IS ONE MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE HOLD

[01:20:03]

I WOULD SAY THAT IF THEY CAN COME UP WITH A BEST PRACTICES ROUTINE THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION DELIVERED TO WHATEVER AGENCY IS GOING TO BE PROSECUTING THESE CASES PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THE MAGISTRATE COURT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF PEOPLE CHARGED WITH DUI NOT COMING TO COURT AND

STILL DRIVING ON THE ROADS HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY. >> THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY DUI CASES IN A BACKLOG IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. WE HAD A BACKLOG IN MAGISTRATES COURT JURY TRIALS A FEW YEARS AGO OVER 300. IT TOOK US ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO CLEAR THAT THAT CALENDAR. I THINK THIS IS DOABLE BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO INSIST THAT THE SOLICITOR AND THE SHERIFF COME UP WITH A PLAN. COME BACK TO US AND TELL US WHAT IT IS. WE REDUCE THE BUDGET AT THIS POINT AND CANCEL PILOT PROGRAM AND THEN WAIT FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION TO BE REQUESTED SO WE CAN FUND A PROGRAM THAT WILL WORK. SO MY MOTION IS TO REDUCE THE SOLICITOR'S BUDGET BY ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR FISCAL YOU'RE TWENTY THREE.

IS THERE A SECOND I'LL SECOND AS MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE SECOND.

>> EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT IS BEING ASKED. SO IT IS A REDUCTION OF ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE SOLICITORS BUDGET WITH THE CAVEAT THAT THE SOLICITOR AND THE SHERIFF WILL GET TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH A NEW PLAN OF HOW THEY WISH TO

ADDRESS DUI IN BEAUFORT COUNTY COMMENTS MR. GLOVER. >> I DO.

I DO SUPPORT WHAT SOME OF THOSE ACTS ASKING FOR. THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE IS THE TIMING OF AND IN THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET WHICH BEGINS IN JULY 1ST WHICH MEANS THAT THERE ARE EMPLOYEES. APPARENTLY THREE ATTORNEYS SHOULD BE OR TWO ATTORNEYS.

I CAN'T REMEMBER. I MEAN YOUR ATTORNEY IS GOING TO HIRE YOU TO HANDLE THOSE BUT THEY WOULD BE TERMINATED IMMEDIATELY AND I'D JUST WONDERING WHETHER THERE SHOULD

BE SOME GRACE GIVEN TO ALLOW HIM TO COME BACK TO US. >> WHICH MEANS THAT MAYBE WITHIN TWO OR THREE MONTHS FUNDING FOR TWO MONTHS AND ALLOW HIM TO COME TO US AND TELL US EXACTLY WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO TO MAINTAIN THE REST OF THAT BUDGET FUNDING FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. THAT'S MY ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE I CAN HELP YOU OUT THAT MAYBE THERE WERE TWO ATTORNEYS THERE. ONE OF THEM QUIT NOW WORKS FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE PROSECUTING DUI CASES WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE SOLICITOR AND THE SOLICITOR IS GETTING SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE STATE FROM A STATE GRANT TO DO THIS KIND OF WORK.

>> SO I THINK THAT THAT SALARY SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS REMAINED BEHIND

. >> SO. YEAH, SOMEWHAT AS ELOQUENT AS LARRY IS. AND I NEVER HATE TO. I MEAN I ALWAYS HATE TO GO AGAINST WHAT LARRY SAYS. BUT HE MADE A GREAT POINT. HOWEVER, I THINK YOU MADE A POINT THAT WE NEED TO KEEP THE MONEY THERE AND IF ANYTHING WE NEED TO GIVE HIM MORE MONEY FOR

THAT FAR BEHIND AFTER COVID . >> SO FOR US TO TAKE THAT MONEY AWAY, THAT MEANS THEN THAT THE DUI CASES WILL GO EVEN SLOWER IF THEY HAVEN'T GONE SO ALREADY.

SO I WILL VOTE AGAINST THE MOTION TOO AND I VOTE TO LEAVE THE MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR

THAT. >> I'LL JUST SORT OF REFUTE YOUR ARGUMENT BY SAYING THAT THERE IS A PERSON THERE WHO IS FULLY FUNDED BY THE STATE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND HE'S BEEN DOING THAT SINCE THE OTHER PERSON QUIT WENT FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

>> SO HE HAS THE MONEY JUST I'M REQUESTING THAT WE DON'T GIVE IT TO HIM.

>> IF I REMEMBER BACK WHEN WE WE PUT THIS IN THE BASIC FEATURE WE WERE LOOKING AT, MR. CHAIRMAN, WAS THAT THERE WAS A MISMATCH BETWEEN THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES WHEN THEY WENT THERE AND AGAINST SOMEBODY A DUI GUY VERSUS SOMEBODY WHO HAD HIRED A VERY HIGH CLASS LAWYER.

AND SO THERE WAS A MISMATCH AND THAT WAS THE THEORY BEHIND I AM SENSITIVE TO THE FACT THAT WE MAY HAVE WE'RE NOT PROCESSING THE CASES IN AN ORDERLY FASHION .

I GUESS THE PIECE THAT I'M KIND OF MISSING IS HOW MANY DO WE KNOW HOW MANY CASES ARE ACTUALLY BEING PROCESSED? IS THAT IS IT? THIS IS GOING VERY SLOWLY OR WE

[01:25:04]

>> SO THIS WOULD BE THE TIME TO ADDRESS THIS. NOW MR. CUNNINGHAM.

>> YEAH. STU STATEMENT THOUGH FOR A SECOND READING.

AND NOBODY HAS BEEN HERE YET. AND AS FAR AS I KNOW. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE TONIGHT FROM THIS LIZ'S OFFICE ABOUT THEIR BUDGET? WELL, WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANYBODY IN THE PUBLIC TO EMBRACE US BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT YET.

>> AND MY NEXT QUESTION WILL BE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HERE FOR THE SCHOOL BUDGET SHOW HERE FOR THE SCHOOL BUDGET? MY POINT IS THEY'RE ACTIVE. THEY FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT.

THEY'RE HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR IT. I THINK THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES.

A LOT OF US SAT UP HERE AND SAID THAT SPOKE VOLUMES. WE TALKED ABOUT IMPACT FEES, WHETHER WE BELIEVED IN WHICH SIDE OF THE FENCE THAT. SECONDLY, I TO SAY THAT THESE ARE NOT COME FROM MY RESTAURANT. THE BACKLOG IS THERE.

SO DON'T LOOK AT US. >> YES, OK. ANY COMMENTS FROM THOSE OF YOU

ONLINE? >> OK. WE WILL HAVE ONE NO VOTE.

>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO BE A NO VOTE? MR. HERVEY SEAN.

OK, WE WILL HAVE TWO NO VOTES. >> JUST A QUESTION. >> YOU SAID IF WE PASS THIS TONIGHT WE COULD CHANGE IT A THIRD READ IT BUT IF WE DIDN'T CHANGE IT TONIGHT WE COULDN'T GET A THIRD READING COULD BE PROBLEMATIC. I'M NOT SURE AT ALL WHY JUST A MISTAKE BECAUSE HERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY NOW BEFORE WE HAVE THIRD READING FOR THE SOLICITOR TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND SAY WE CAN DO THIS CHANGE AND I CAN DO A B C D WHATEVER WITH THE

SHERIFF. >> BUT IF WE WERE TO DO IT AT THIRD READING WE DON'T HAVE THE TIME SO IT IS ALSO BEING ADVISED THIS IS A SOMETHING HE'S HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH INTO. BUT HE CERTAINLY WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TOMORROW MORNING.

>> I'M NOT BEGGING THE QUESTION. I DON'T FOLLOW A DEFINITION IN THE SECOND READING. I JUST MAY NOT FOLLOW THE LOGIC IN IT THAT I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THEM COME IN AND IF THEY MAKE A GOOD CASE WE OUGHT TO LEAVE IT IN THAT THIRD READING.

AND IF THAT'S NOT A GOOD CASE, WE OUGHT TO TAKE IT OUT WHATEVER THE MECHANISM IS TO DO IT. OK. SO YOU CLERK TO COUNCIL WOULD

YOU CALL THE ROLL ON THIS THEN PLEASE? >> MR. HIRSCHHORN ONE OF THEM BEING USED EVERY CONGREGATION CONGREGATION THE SECOND READING IT THAT YOU'RE READING.

>> ABSOLUTELY. UNDER THE DISTINCTION AS WELL. BECAUSE IT'S VERY RECENT.

IF WE RAISED THIS ISSUE ONLY AT THIRD READING WE HAVE NO TIME TO GET THE INFORMATION WE WOULD NEED TO MAKE AN EFFECTIVE DECISION AS TO WHETHER WE SHOULD PUT THE MONEY BACK IN OR LEAVE IT OUT. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK.

>> SO GATHERING MECHANISM TO GROW. I'M SORRY I DID NOT HEAR ALL

OF THAT. YES. >> WHETHER IT INFORMATION GATHERING MECHANISM THE SPEAKER OR SAYS IS JUST TO GATHER INFORMATION.

OR IS IT TO ACTUALLY BASICALLY REMOVE THE FUNDS? >> TONIGHT WOULD BE TO TAKE THOSE FUNDS OUT. THAT'S HIS AMENDMENT IS TO TAKE THOSE FUNDS OUT OK.

ALL RIGHT. >> MR. MCKELLEN MADE THE MOTION SO HE WOULD VOTE FIRST.

YES. >> THE SECOND WAS ME. YES.

THE CUNNINGHAM WAS A YES. >> OK, LOOK LOOKING PAST ME. >> NO, NO, NO.

I'M TRYING TO GET BECAUSE I DON'T I'M ALLOWING THEM TO DO THIS.

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN FRONT OF ME I'M HAPPY TO TAKE OUT. >> YES, PLEASE.

CALL THE REST OF THE ROLL. WE HAVE TO IS COUNCIL MEMBER LOVER.

>> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER HARBHAJAN COUNCIL MEMBER RODMAN.

[01:30:07]

>> YES. WITH WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE CAN COME BACK AT THIRD READING AND RESTORATIVE IF WE IF WE NEED TO. COUNCIL MEMBER HOWARD YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON. MARK LOST NO COUNCIL MEMBER MACALLAN ALREADY VOTED.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON IS ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER FAREWELLING YO

AND THE CHAIRMAN? >> YES. AND VISE CHAIRMAN?

YES. >> OK I HAVE THAT AS 7 3. >> YEP.

SEVEN YES. THREE NO. SEVEN THREE.

>> MR. DAWSON CHAPS. MR FLOYD THIS ALL TO YOU MR TO FOLLOW ALONG WAS MR LAWSON WAS

A NO AND MR HER VISION IT WAS A MOUSE. >> OK NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO TO

ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC. >> BASED UPON THE INFORMATION YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT OUR BUDGET

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO MAKE A COMMENT? >> SEEING NONE WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT WE HAVE ON THE FLOOR A MOTION WITH TWO AMENDMENTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO VOTE TO ADD FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN FOR THE SPANISH MOSS TRAIL AND TO TAKE OUT ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SEVEN THOUSAND IN THE SOLICITOR'S BUDGET.

>> IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION REGARDING THE SECOND READING OF THE BUDGET?

>> DOES ANYBODY WISH ME TO HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE THEN I WOULD ASSUME THAT THE SECOND READING WILL BE SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT OBJECTION AS AMENDED OR SEEING NO OBJECTIONS.

[13. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE LEVY OF TAX FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2022 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2023, AND TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR SAID PURPOSES]

SECOND PLEASE. >> I'LL SECOND MR. LAWSON MAKES THE SECOND DOOLEY MOTION AND

SECOND BEFORE I GO TO THE PUBLIC. >> IS THERE ANY COMMENTS THAT ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL WISHES TO MAKE REGARDING THE SCHOOL BUDGET?

>> MR LLEWELLYN, YOUR QUESTION? THANK YOU KNOW. RIGHT.

ARE THERE WHY NOT GO? I'M WONDERING YOU ME DISTRICT PLANS TO LEVY TAXES LIKE THIS IN MY TAXES TO DECREASE AT MY HOME. NO.

2 REQUIRED FUNDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE WAY THAT I WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY THAT TAKES THIS MONEY.

RIGHT NOW I'M WONDERING IF THE RIGHT THAT'S BEEN GIVEN BY SENATOR DAVIS.

>> OK, VERY GOOD QUESTION. PETER YES. THE QUESTION WAS BY MR. FLEW WELLING WAS NOW THAT SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS HAVE BEEN CREATED BY THE STATE TO COME TO

THE DISTRICT TO SPEND THAT MONEY. >> WILL THIS HAVE IMPACT ON THE WAY THE BUDGET IS CONFIGURED? AND THE AMOUNT OF LEVY THAT WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE TOWARDS THAT

BROAD BUDGET? IS THAT A GOOD SUMMARY, BRIAN? >> YEAH, IT'S I WOULD SAY YES

IF IT'S NOT. >> WHY NOT? OK.

AND HIS OTHER STATEMENT IF IT'S NOT DONE THAT WAY, WHY NOT? OK.

SO WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ADDRESS THAT

PARTICULAR COMMENT. >> IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENT? >> JUST ONE POSTER.

GLOVER. THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. FIRST OF ALL, WILL YOU TEACHING IS A PART YOU TAUGHT US.

YOU DO. AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE SUPERINTENDENT AND ADMINISTRATION FOR INCLUDING

[01:35:03]

I THINK THE ONE OF THE TEACHERS CAME UP THE MATH TEACHER I BELIEVE BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE TALKED ABOUT ON TIME ONE OF THE HIGHEST PAYING DISTRICT AND NOW WE GIFTED THREE AND I'M HOPING THAT THIS WILL HELP WITH THAT IN ADDITION TO THE FUNDING THAT YOU ARE GETTING ELSEWHERE TO INCREASE THE SALARY BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT WE WE WE SHOULD BE ONE OF THE BEST.

>> I MEAN IT'S REALLY THE TEACHER'S SALARY. AND WE HAVE TO BE THERE BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T KEEP THE SALARY UP, YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE. SO WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.

SO I THINK THE STILL GET ABOUT PUTTING THEM IN THE LOCAL SUPPLEMENT IN THEIR SALARIES SORT OF AT LEAST ON THE STATE LEVEL THEY CAN SEE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO MUCH BETTER SALARIES LIKE ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE GO TO THE PUBLIC.

>> MR. CUNNINGHAM YEAH. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS FROM THE LAST MEETING WE HAD THREE WEEKS AGO MAYBE THE SUPERINTENDENT OR TIME TO HELP ME OUT WITH IT.

WHAT ARE YOUR NUMBERS OUT FOR VACANCIES CURRENTLY? I KNOW IT'S BEEN THREE WEEKS.

YOU GUYS HAVE HIRED MORE PEOPLE. I'M JUST IF YOU HAD THOSE

NUMBERS FROM THEN TO NOW WE'LL ADDRESS IT. >> OH, PERFECT.

NO PROBLEM. SO YEAH. THAT'LL BE ONE OF THEM.

THE OTHER ONE I'M GOING TO ASK IS WHAT IS THE CONTRACT LENGTH ? I KNOW WHEN I WAS TEACHING I THINK ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY DAYS FOR THE CONTRACT IS WHAT YOU'RE EMPLOYED TO WORK. I KNOW IT'S A YEAR CONTRACT FOR A NIGHT.

THEY DO THAT FOR BENEFITS NOT NECESSARILY FOR WORKING DAYS BUT I THINK IT WAS ONE HUNDRED NINETY WASN'T SURE IF IT'S STILL THAT. AND THEN MY OTHER ONE IS MORE OF A STATEMENT I TOLD YOU GUYS BEFORE I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT STORING MONEY AT SOMETHING DOESN'T FIX A PROBLEM WHEN THERE'S OTHER ISSUES THAT GO WITH IT.

I STILL DO BELIEVE WE HAVE A CULTURAL PROBLEM AS WELL OR MORE PROBLEM AS WELL INSIDE OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND JUST LIKE WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IN M.S. OR POLICE OR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IT'S A VERY REAL THING IN ANY OF THOSE WORK DEPARTMENTS.

AND I WANT TO. I'VE BEEN TOSSING AROUND FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS NOW.

SORT OF A CHALLENGE TO THE SCHOOL BOARD. SOMETHING I'M WILLING TO ADVOCATE AND BACKUP FOR. SO RIGHT NOW I THINK THE NUMBERS YOU SAID PUT US AT NUMBER FOUR FOR HIGHEST PAID IN THE STATE. IF THIS PASSES DOESN'T PUT US UP FOR HIGHER TO 1 PUTS US AT 1 AWESOME. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'VE TOLD YOU GUYS MULTIPLE TIMES THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE STRUGGLED WITH AS THE MORALE THING AND I KNOW A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH TEACHERS TIME THEIR DAYS OFF THEIR PLANNING PERIODS, THE MEETINGS AFTER SCHOOL, THE EMAIL OF THE MEETINGS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AN EMAIL. ALL THOSE THINGS I'D BE WILLING TO LOOK AT TO SEE WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE FOR TEACHERS TO GET AN EXTRA TWENTY FIVE HUNDRED ON THEIR SALARY.

IF WE COULD COME UP WITH A WAY TO ENSURE THAT THEIR TIME IS PROTECTED, THE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT OF THOSE STUDENTS IS HANDLED PROPERLY. BECAUSE THAT DOES TAKE A TOLL.

THERE IS A PERIOD I WENT THROUGH 17 IEP MEETINGS AND A TWO WEEK PERIOD AND THAT'S BEFORE SCHOOL PLANNING PERIOD AFTER SCHOOL. I HAD 14 KIDS WITH IEPS OR FIVE OR FOUR IN MY LAST CLASS THAT I TAUGHT HIM AT A 19 SOMETHING TO DO.

>> I BELIEVE THEY CAN MODIFY THE BUDGET AND BRING IT BACK TO US.

>> SO I'D JUST BE CURIOUS THE NUMBERS AND TO SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO ON OUR END BECAUSE I KNOW YOU GUYS SAID YOU ARE BANKING MILLS FOR THE FUTURE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE COULDN'T USE THEM TODAY IF WE HAD TO. SO I KNOW IT'S SHORT KNOWS YOU HAVE TWO WEEKS BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING YOU GUYS ARE INTERESTED IN I WOULD LOVE TO

EXPLORE. THANK YOU. >> OK.

>> AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE PUBLIC ADDRESS US BEFORE THAT.

>> LET ME JUST MAKE A COMMENT ON THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE AND ARE SEEING US FOR THE FIRST TIME OR MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME. I SPENT FORTY SIX YEARS IN EDUCATION. IT WAS EVERYTHING IN EDUCATION. SO TO YOU TEACHERS I APPLAUD WHAT YOU DO. IF I HAD MY WAY YOU WOULD BE THE HIGHEST PAID INDIVIDUALS BUT I DON'T KNOW NOR DO I HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO TELL YOUR ADMINISTRATION HOW TO PROPOSE A BUDGET. THERE IS A SEPARATION THERE. WE ARE DULY REQUIRED BY LAW TO ADOPT YOUR BUDGE. WE WOULD HOPE THAT WITH THE NEW FOUND MONEY THAT CLEARLY YOUR

[01:40:06]

DR. RODRIGUEZ, HOW ARE YOU? FINE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY. I'M GOING TO ASK A FEW QUESTIONS FROM YOU AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TACKLE THOSE QUESTIONS.

YES. I'M GOING TO ASK MISS CROSBY TO JOIN ME UP HERE AND MISS MCADAM TO JOIN ME UP HERE SO WE CAN TACKLE YOUR QUESTIONS. RESPECT RIGHT.

>> ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS IS THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET.

>> DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE NOW? SO I WANT TO SHARE JUST SOME PREPARED REMARKS FOR YOU THIS EVENING AND THEN WE'LL JUMP RIGHT INTO ALL OF THOSE ITEMS.

>> OK, IF THAT'S OK. >> OH, ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THESE FEW THOUGHTS WITH YOU TODAY THIS EVENING. OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR PRIORITY WISE US EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION 100 PERCENT OF THE MILLAGE INCREASE THAT'S REQUESTED WILL

GO TO EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION. >> I WANT TO SAY THAT AGAIN 100 PERCENT OF THE MILLAGE INCREASE

BEING REQUESTED WILL GO TO EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION. >> THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE CURRENTLY AS YOU'VE HEARD WE RANK 50 THIRD IN BEGINNING TEACHER SALARY OR OUR GOAL JUST

TO BE AT THE TOP. >> WE BELIEVE THAT THIS BUDGET WILL ACCOMPLISH THAT AND IT WILL POSITIVELY IMPACT SALARIES FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES SO THAT WE CAN BE MORE COMPETITIVE AS WE SEEK TO ATTRACT NEW TEACHERS AND NEW EMPLOYEES TO OUR SYSTEM CURRENTLY IN

EDUCATION. >> THERE IS A NATIONWIDE SIDE TEACHER SHORTAGE 50 PERCENT OF TEACHERS ENTERING THE PROFESSION LEAVE BY THE FIFTH YEAR EARLIER THIS YEAR.

>> COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA SHARED THAT STATEWIDE EIGHT PERCENT OF TEACHERS LEAVE DUE TO RETIREMENTS, FAMILY MOVES OR OTHER REASONS.

THEY SHARED THAT THEY ARE GRADUATING ENOUGH TO FILL FOUR .

>> THAT'S A 4 PERCENT DIFFERENCE RIGHT OFF THE BAT. OUR TEAM IS OUT THERE RECRUITING VIGOROUSLY AND THEY'RE NOT ONLY RECRUITING AGAINST NEIGHBORING SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN THE STATE BUT BECAUSE THOSE NUMBERS THEY ARE RECRUITING NATIONWIDE AND AGAINST OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> YET THEY CAN'T COMMIT TO A SPECIFIC SALARY FOR PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES YET OUR EXISTING TEACHERS WANT TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE RIGHT HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY WHERE THEY WORK. WE'VE HEARD SOME OF OUR TEACHERS SHARE THAT THIS EVENING A FEW WEEKS AGO OUR TEAM PROVIDED THE COUNCIL WITH A SUMMARY PRESENTATION ON OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD TO A SECOND READING. NOW OUR REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT TO MOVE IT FORWARD AGAIN.

I WANT TO BRING MISS CROSBY UP TO DEAL WITH THE FIRST SET OF QUESTIONS.

>> GOOD EVENING. AS SENATOR DAVIS WAS TALKING THIS EVENING, I KNEW THIS WOULD BE A HOT TOPIC AND SO I HAVE PREPARED SOME NOTES ACTUALLY EMAILED THE STATE DEPARTMENT FINANCE DIRECTOR NANCY AS WE WERE SITTING IN THIS MEETING AND GOT SOME INFORMATION FROM HER. THE LATEST ACTION OF THE LEGISLATURE ACTUALLY OCCURRED ON FRIDAY. AND SO WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED PROJECTIONS OF REVENUE YET.

AND SO I CONFIRM THAT WITH MISS WILLIAMS DURING THIS MEETING AND SHE SAID THAT WE WILL BE RECEIVING THEM SOON. SO I'M NOT SURE WHEN THAT WILL BE.

HOWEVER, OUR BUDGET IS BASED ON THE HOUSE BUDGET. THE FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS IS REFLECTIVE OF THE HOUSE EXPENDITURES AND THE REVENUES FOR AN EARLIER PROJECTION OF REVENUE. SINCE THAT EARLIER PROJECTION WE'VE RECEIVED SEVEN DIFFERENT PROJECTIONS OF REVENUE THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS. SO CHANGING EVERY TIME IS WE RECEIVE A REVENUE PROJECTION IS NOT A REALIST WAY OF MOVING THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.

SO WE RECOGNIZE THERE COULD BE ADDITIONAL REVENUES. I DON'T BELIEVE IT WILL BE ANY SORT OF WINDFALL ACTUALLY. MANY TIMES THE FUNDS ARE JUST REALLOCATED FROM ONE SOURCE CIA FUNDS EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT ACT FUNDS INTO THE GENERAL FUND. SO THAT'S NOT NEW MONEY.

THEY'RE JUST MOVING IT FROM ONE ONE HAND TO THE OTHER. SO THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS

[01:45:01]

SO MY PROPOSAL THIS EVENING HAS NOT CHANGED BASED ON FRIDAYS DISCUSSIONS WITH THE LEGISLATURE. AND AT THIS POINT I THINK THE PATH WOULD BE TO CONTINUE DOWN THE SAME PATH. WE ARE TRAVELING IN SECOND AND THIRD READING AND IF ANY ADDITIONAL REVENUES ARE SURFACED THROUGH THAT DISCUSSION OF THROUGH THE PROJECTIONS THAT WE RECEIVE AND THE FINAL DELIBERATIONS OF THE STATE BUDGET, THEN WE WOULD CERTAINLY BRING THOSE MATTERS BACK TO THE SCHOOL BOARD FIRST TO DO IT FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION SO IT WILL BE RECOGNIZED IF THERE IS SOME SORT OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOURCES AVAILABLE AND WE WILL MAKE SURE TO BRING THAT INFORMATION FORWARD TO THE BOARD SO THAT

THE ISSUES OF VACANCIES AND CONTRACT LENGTH. >> I'M GOING TO ASK JOE MCCANN, OUR DIRECTOR OF RECRUITING TO COME UP AND SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT THOSE FOLKS IF YOU WANT.

>> YOU JUST SO SHE'S DONE IT. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN THIS EVENING .

OUR TALLY TODAY IS WE HAVE HUNDRED AND NINE CERTIFIED VACANCIES OPEN AT THIS TIME.

TWENTY SEVEN ELEMENTARY THIRTY ONE MIDDLE SCHOOL, THIRTY TWO HIGH SCHOOL AND NINETEEN SPECIAL EDUCATION THAT DIFFERS FROM THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE. WE HAVE BEEN RECRUITING FURIOUSLY. WE HAD OUR FIRST NEW HIRE ORIENTATION TODAY FOR 40 NEW HIRES AND I REALLY DREADED THE SLIDE ON HOW MUCH MONEY YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE.

WE HAVE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCHING. SO TO YOUR QUESTION LOGAN TEACHERS MOST OF OUR TEACHERS ARE CONTRACTED FOR ONE HUNDRED NINETY WORKING DAYS.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE PACE SCALE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO DO START IN JULY FOR EXAMPLE, HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS THERE TO 40 EMPLOYEES TO YOU KNOW TO 10 TO FIVE INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES. IT'S COMPLICATED BUT MOST OF THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS ARE CONTRACTED FOR ONE HUNDRED NINETY DAYS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. OH YES. NO, I'M GOING TO NEED A MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING BECAUSE THE MOTION TO EXTEND BEYOND THE 8:00 O'CLOCK HOUR.

>> MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. RUDMAN MR. MCKELLEN MAY BE SAYING I DON'T WANT TO DO IT BUT I'LL DO IT.

>> OK. MICHAEL? >> YES.

THIS WILL BE DONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. AND I SEE NO OBJECTION.

SO WE WILL GO. GO ON. GO TO.

>> HE'S GONNA DO THAT. NOBODY LISTENING TO MY INVOCATION ABOUT BEING ON TIME.

SO WE MIGHT AS WELL EXTEND OK. IS THERE ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO

MAKE A STATEMENT BEFORE WE TAKE OUR VOTE SEEING NONE? >> CAN I JUST GUESS ONE QUESTION HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE BUDGET? I SAW HANDS BEFORE.

HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE ? OH.

OK, GREAT. JUST WANTED TO BE SURE THAT IT WAS EVERYBODY SO IT IS DULY

MOTIONED AND SECONDED TO MOVE ON TO THE THIRD READING. >> YES, I HAVE QUESTIONS.

SO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS HAD HELPED ME UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT.

>> I DIDN'T REALIZE WE WERE FIFTY THIRD AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO FIRST TELL ME WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE. WHAT WAS THE STARTING SALARY WITH WHEN WE WERE FIFTY THIRD AND WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT NOW IF WE'RE FIRST THIRTY SEVEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED TWENTY WAS THE FIFTY THIRD THAT DID NOT INCLUDE THE LOCALITY SUPPLEMENT.

>> SO THAT IS THE STARTING TEACHER SALARY THAT IS POSTED ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S WEB PAGE AND IS POSTED AT THE STATE LEVEL AS THE STATE IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS WE WERE ALLOCATED THIS YEAR WITH CURRENT YOUR DOLLARS A 3 PERCENT COST OF LIVING INCREASE WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE UP TO THIRTY NINE THOUSAND SIXTY SIX DOLLARS SO WE MOVE THE NEEDLE TO FORTIETH DURING THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR WITH A ONE TIME PAYMENT OF OF THAT COST OF LIVING INCREASE. SO AN ADDITIONAL FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS TAKES US TO FORTY THREE THOUSAND FORTY THREE THOUSAND SIXTY SIX DOLLARS AND THEN THE THE BOARD MADE A MOTION AND APPROVED TO MOVE TWENTY FIVE HUNDRED OF THE FIVE THOUSAND SUPPLEMENT INTO THE BASE SALARY

[01:50:02]

NOW I WANT TO STIPULATE SOMETHING WE DO BELIEVE THAT WILL GET US IN THE TOP OF THE STATE. HOWEVER WE DON'T. WE HAVE SURVEYED MULTIPLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ASSUMED THAT WHAT OTHERS WOULD DO THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF 4000.

AND SO OUR ASSUMPTION IS THAT WE WILL BE AT THE TOP IN THE STATE.

BUT EVERYONE IS MANEUVERING AND CHANGES AS THE STATE LEGISLATURE MAKES CHANGES.

OTHERS MAY CHANGE THEIR MINDS AT THE LAST MINUTE AND AMEND THEIR BUDGETS.

SO THAT IS A POSSIBILITY THAT WE WILL END UP IN THE TOP FIVE HOPEFULLY.

BUT WE'LL BE WATCHING IT VERY CLOSELY THAT OUR AIM RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE POSITIONED WELL TO BE

VERY COMPETITIVE FOR THAT FRONT RUNNER. >> I'M ASKING IS COUPLE FOLD.

FIRST OF ALL, I THINK YOU PENALIZE YOURSELF BY NOT PUTTING ALL OF IT IN THE BASE PAY BECAUSE PEOPLE LOOK AT THE BASE PAY AND DECIDE WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO EVEN TALK TO.

SO I THINK YOU'RE SHORT CHANGING EVERYBODY BY NOT BY HAVING THE LOCAL SUPPLEMENT NOT IN THE BASE SALARY. SECONDLY, AT OUR LAST MEETING MY SENSE OF OUR DISCUSSION AT COUNCIL WAS THAT THERE WERE A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF INCREASING THE MILLAGE IF WE NEEDED TO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE AT THE TOP AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT COST OF LIVING WITH OUR COST OF LIVING IS GREATER HERE THAN IT IS IN OTHER PLACES.

SO IN FACT I CHALLENGED YOU ALL TO COME BACK AND TELL US WHAT IS THE MILLAGE INCREASE THAT YOU WOULD NEED FOR US REALLY TO BE NUMBER ONE INCLUDING THE COST OF LIVING.

I'M HOPING BEFORE WE GET TO THIRD READING THAT YOU WILL DO THAT BECAUSE I THINK OUR COUNCIL WOULD BE AGREEABLE TO THAT FRANKLY BECAUSE I THINK IF IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TEACHERS AT THE END OF THE DAY AND YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF TURNOVER WE CAN'T HIRE AND PEOPLE COME HERE AND THEN THEY FIND THAT THEY CAN'T LIVE HERE AND THEY DON'T COME.

IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY WHEN WE HAVE A LOT OF TURNOVER. SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE US. I COULD BE WRONG IN MY SENSE OF COUNCIL BUT I DID SENSE THAT THERE WAS A GENERAL AGREEMENT OR CONCERN THAT WE WE REALLY NEEDED TO CONSIDER POSSIBLY GOING A LITTLE HIGHER ON THE MILLAGE TO REALLY TAKE CARE OF THE TEACHERS AS AS ANY OTHER

COMMENTS BEFORE WE TAKE OUR VOTE. >> I HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT.

THE LATEST FROM HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT THE MEDIAN INCOME FOR A FAMILY OF ONE AT 80 PERCENT FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY IS NOW FORTY EIGHT THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY.

SO WE ARE LOSING GROUND DEFINITELY. EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE MEDIAN.

ONE MORE QUICK STATEMENT, CHAIRMAN, IF I COULD. SO DOING THE MATH I HAVE IT PULLED UP RIGHT HERE. THE PENDING PUTS IT AT FORTY FIVE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY SIX. YES. THEN YOU HAVE THIS OK, THE SUPPLEMENT WITH THE STATEMENT I MADE EARLIER IF LIKE I SAID I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR IT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO THAT. I DON'T IF IT'S POSSIBLE I'LL KNOW IF WE NEED TO NEGOTIATE A MILLAGE BUT THAT WOULD PUT THE BASE OVER FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO START AT AS 50 AS THE NUMBER IS ALWAYS MADE SENSE TO ME RELATIVE TO DISCUSSIONS WE HAD A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND THEN WE ALWAYS CALLED IT WHERE I WAS DRIVE FOR FIVE.

>> THERE ARE SOME CONSIDERATIONS WE WOULD NEED TO MAKE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS AS WELL. ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF OUR STAFF ARE PAID FOR WITH SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS AND THOSE FUNDS ARE NOT INCREASING. SOME ARE ACTUALLY DECREASING SUCH AS TITLE 1 FUNDING. SO WE DO THE. BUT GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET WILL ABSORB THE IMPACT OF ANY INCREASES THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO BE COVERED IN SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS AS THOSE DIMINISH OR STAY FLAT. SO WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MORE SUSTAINABLE IN OUR IN OUR OUR PROGRESS TOWARD THAT FIFTY THOUSAND OR SOME MAGIC NUMBER. THERE IS NO MAGIC NUMBER ACTUALLY BECAUSE THOSE COSTS CONTINUE TO RISE. SO I KNOW YOU CAN CALCULATE IT BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE.

>> SO TELL US WHAT IT IS ON YOUR MIGHT WORK. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THAT MONEY? THANK YOU SO MUCH. OK.

IF YOU DIDN'T HEAR WELL YOU SAID IT ANSWERS HIS QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? OK, IF I READ THE COUNCIL THIS THE SECOND READING WILL BE WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS. AND WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO THE THIRD READING OF THAT.

[14. SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A 2022 TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX REFERENDUM]

[01:55:07]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING. >> AS AN ITEM NUMBER 14 IS THE SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE

OR THE OF CHANCE TO MAKE A BE LONELY. >> I BELIEVE IT ALREADY HOW MUCH YOU WANT ANNUALLY. THANKS FOR STOPPING BY. REALLY? I TELL YOU WE SHOULD'VE PUT IT LAST. HEY IT'S SUMMERTIME.

>> THANKS A EACH OTHER. >> OKAY. SO WE'LL NEED A MOTION IN SECOND FOR THE SECOND READING OF THE ORDINANCE FOR THE 2022 TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX REVENUE MOTION PLEASE. MR. GLOVER MAKES THE MOTION TAX.

MR. MCKELLEN MAKES THE SECOND TWICE TO BE LOUDER. SAY YOUR CHEST.

OK. DISCUSSION BASED UPON WHAT SENATOR DAVIS HAD TO SAY.

REGARDING HOW WE WOULD SPLIT THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS MADE BY THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE IN EVERYTHING I READ SAW WHAT WAS

PRESENTED IS NOT TALKING ABOUT NEW ROADS. >> IT IS TALKING ABOUT TAKING THE EXISTING ROADS, REPAIRING THEM IN SOME CASES HAVING TO REPLACE THEM WITH NEW ROAD BUT NOT YOU KNOW, TAKING IT AND DOING LIKE SOME OTHER PLACES AROUND OUR DOING OF CREATING NEW ROAD SYSTEMS. IT'S ADDRESSING THE NEEDS FOR THE MAJOR ROADS AND PART

OF THAT IS THAT GREENBELT. >> NOW WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE WAY WE WOULD PUT IT ON THE REFERENDUM, THAT'S THE KEY DISCUSSION WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE BECAUSE WE ALREADY

WENT TO THE VOTERS FOR LOST AND THAT WAS SOUNDLY DEFEATED. >> SO UNLESS WE DO THIS THE CORRECT WAY ONCE AGAIN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUT AND SAY I'M NOT APPROVING LOST. SO THAT'S THE WAY WE HAVE TO DO IT.

MS. HOWARD YES, MR. CHAIRMAN AND I REALLY APPRECIATE MS. WHITE'S COMMENTS TONIGHT.

BUT BUT THIS BILL THIS ALSO INCLUDES MASS TRANSPORTATION. YES, IT INCLUDES OTHER FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION SUCH AS PARKING ON SIDEWALKS WHICH ALSO INCLUDES A SYSTEM FOR THAT FOR BULK MASS TRANSPORTATION AND SIDEWALKS AND BIKE PAST AND THE GREEN WAYS.

>> AND I THINK THE VOTERS WILL BE CONFUSED IF WE DON'T WE NEED TO MAKE THAT ALL CLEAR THAT IT'S NOT FOR NEW ROADS. HER POINT IS VERY WELL TAKEN BUT WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT WE CAN DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO GET THE ROADS IN GOOD SHAPE TO GET OUR DIRT ROADS PAY WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT AND ALSO PROVIDE MASS TRANSPORTATION.

AND THEY WERE VERY COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE LAND THAT IS ON THESE ROADS THAT IS BEING DEVELOPED AND IS THERE THE POSSIBILITY OF BUYING SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THE SENATOR WAS ADVOCATING.

IT'S HOW DO WE ENCOMPASS THAT IN THIS REFERENDUM? >> IS THERE A CHANGE THE WORDING RIGHT. I KNOW WE MAY HAVE TO CHANGE THE WORDING.

WE MAY HAVE TO SAY IT IS THE PENNY IS SPLIT UP INTO POINT NINE FOR TRANSPORTATION POINT ONE FOR GREENBELT. WELL, THERE'S A VARIETY OF WAYS WE CAN DO THAT.

WE COULD ACTUALLY EXTEND THE TIME AND SAY THE LAST TWO YEARS TO A 12 YEAR AND SAY THE LAST TWO YEARS OR STRICTLY FOR EVERY HEART ATTACK WITH THAT ONE. I THINK YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS MAKE IT MORE PALATABLE AS PROBABLY PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO CRITICIZE US WRONGLY FOR THE TIE UP WITH THE 300 MILLION DOLLARS WE'RE DEALING WITH AT THE MOMENT TRYING TO GET A BRIDGE AND A GATEWAY DONE RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY, I THINK TO MAKE IT MORE PALATABLE. YOU CAN ALWAYS GO WITH THE THING WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT MOST OF OUR ADULT LIVES THE 80 20 SPLIT. I MEAN IF YOU WANT WHAT 80 PERCENT OF THIS TREND TOWARDS TRANSPORTATION AND THE ITEMS THAT ALICE HAS ITEMIZE THERE

[02:00:04]

SOME PEOPLE MAY SAY 70 30. I DON'T KNOW. BUT IT HAS TO BE A STARTING POINT FOR NEGOTIATION. IF IT'S GOING TO BE SPLIT THEN HOW MUCH OF IT SHOULD BE FOR THE GREEN INITIATIVE AND HOW MUCH OF IT SHOULD BE FOR ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT MUST BE ITEMIZED SO PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF IT'S NOT JUST ROADS. YES.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING THIS DEBATE RIGHT. LOGAN, I'M GOING TO HOLD YOU FOR A SECOND. PAUL HAD HIS HAND UP FIRST. I WAS.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY WHAT WE DO HERE AND I APPLAUD AVERY'S WORKING HARD.

IT WAS DROPPED THE FACT THAT FAR DOWN THE ROAD STATION AND GREENBELT.

I'M A LITTLE RELUCTANT TO TRY TO REACH HELP WITH BECAUSE IT'S MUCH.

>> REALLY I MEAN THEY WORK REALLY HARD. I DON'T REMEMBER HOW MANY MEETINGS THEY HAD RIGHT HERE. AND NO MATTER WHAT THE NEW PENSION WITHOUT WE SHOT IN THE DARK YOU ADDING YOU OR GREENBELT MONEY WITHOUT STEP UP THE RHYTHM AND OF COURSE THE IDEA OF ADDING A COUPLE YEARS ON AVERAGE WOULD GIVE US THREE HUNDRED FORTY MILLION DOLLARS AND ROUGHLY IN TODAY'S DOLLARS SIX ALREADY IN THERE AS DOLLARS .

THE REALITY IS THAT THE MAN FOR RIBAUT MEANING IS ESSENTIALLY UNLIMITED BECAUSE OF MASSIVE NUMBER OF WHICH HAVE BEEN POINTED OUT EARLIER LAST MONTH MARCH TO AVERY'S CLASSIC NUMBER A TRUE BELLAMY'S SETTING UP FOR A FEW DAYS OR SOMETHING. THE I I WOULD CERTAINLY SUPPORT ANY OF YEARS FOR HIM TO LEAVE EVERYTHING ELSE HAPPENING AS IT IS TWO YEARS AGO.

BUT THERE IS ANOTHER HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE TODAY. I'LL GET THAT ALL OVER AGAIN BECAUSE THE PRESENT YOU. IN AND SEAT THAT WON'T BE. MAYBE ONE WAY TO DO MAYBE A BETTER WAY. BUT I'VE GIVEN THIS A LOT IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO BECAUSE I WAS NEVER A ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND I THINK THAT THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.

I'D BE INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID. MY.

GO AHEAD. MAKE A LONG TO IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGY THAT WE EXPENDED TWO YEARS WITH A THOSE ADDITIONAL THREE YEARS PLUS THREE HUNDRED FORTY MILLION DOLLARS BE THE QUOTED EXPERTS WE BRING REPORTS IT CAN BE HARD TO BEAT BEFORE YOU BEFORE YOU DO THAT.

PAUL YOU SAY LET'S HAVE SOME OTHER PEOPLE WEIGH IN ABOUT THE FEELINGS SO WE GET A SENSE BECAUSE YOU KNOW I'M DOING THIS RIGHT NOW. MAY NOT GET THE END RESULTS WE

ALL WANT. >> SO IF YOU COULD HOLD OFF GREATER QUESTION.

I CAN'T I CAN'T HEAR YOU VERY WELL WHICH IS A PROBLEM I HAVE .

IT'S A LITTLE GARBLED BUT ARE YOU SUGGESTING A 12 PERIOD 10 YEARS FOR ROADS, TWO YEARS AT THE END FOR GREEN FOR THE GREEN INITIATIVES THAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING NOW? YES. REMEMBER IN THE 10 YEARS IN THEIR GREEN IDEA WE SAID THERE'S GOING TO BE IT LITERALLY WOULD BE A 12 YEAR PROGRAM BECAUSE A PERCENTAGE

OF IT WOULD GO TO THE GREENBELT OVER THE TWELVE YEARS. >> SO HE SAID, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOT TO BE DONE RIGHT AWAY THEN THAT YOU CAN'T END ONE. AND THEN PICK UP THE OTHER.

WELL, IT'S GOT TO BE FOR THE FULL 12 YEARS. AM I MISTAKEN? THAT'S RIGHT. IT HAS TO BE OF COURSE IT DOES. GOOD.

THAT'S WHY YES. IT'S GOT TO BE THE 12 YEARS LIKE THAT.

AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO RAISE ENOUGH MONEY AND THE IDEA OF RAISING THE MONEY AT THE BEGINNING IS THERE SEED MONEY THAT YOU WOULD RAISE IN THE FIRST OR SECOND YEAR TO BEGIN BUYING OFF SOME OF THE DEVELOP? WHAT'S THE SPLIT? WELL, THE SPLIT IS WHATEVER WE DECIDE TO SPLIT IS GOING TO BE ON YOU MAY NEED ANOTHER TWO YEARS.

>> YEAH. >> COULD BE. LET'S SEE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY. LOGAN THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF.

ONE THINGS THAT YOU STRUGGLE WITH AS WE SAID THAT THERE'S NOTHING ON HERE ABOUT NEW ROADS BUT THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN RIGHT NOW DOES GIVE THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON ACCESS TO NEW ROADS IF YOU LIKE. IT'S EXHIBIT A. ITEM NUMBER 14 BLUFFTON

[02:05:02]

NUMBER TWO ON THAT LIST IS A BRAND NEW ROAD. IT IS LIVELY AND THEY COULD PICK ANYTHING OFF OF LATS. SO UNLESS WE SWIPE THAT OUT WHICH IS THE ONLY I WOULD SUPPORT ANY OF THIS REFERENDUM THAT IT STILL COMES THERE COUNTY COUNCIL I'M NOT SURE HOW WE CAN PROMISE THAT IT WOULD BE NO NEW ROADS. THAT'S THAT'S ONE PART OF MY STATEMENT. THE OTHER PART IS I WILL NOT BE A FAN OF 12 YEARS.

I'M ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH 10. I THINK THIS AREA CHANGES SO RAPIDLY, SO QUICKLY.

SOME OF THE THINGS WE REALIZE AT ONE POINT WAS A PRIORITY MIGHT NOT BE A PRIORITY IN THE FUTURE. BUT THE ONLY REASON I'M STILL CONSIDERING IT IS BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING ON HERE FOR NEW ROADS. SO WE STILL CAN HANDLE, YOU KNOW, THE PRIORITIES OF DEALING WITH THE GROWTH WE HAVE IN THE CURRENT AREAS THE 80 20 SPLIT SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD. I THINK YOU COULD EVEN GO HIGHER IF YOU NEEDED TO BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S LEEWAY WITH SOME OF THE BUDGETS THE MONEY ALLOCATED TO CERTAIN AREAS.

I'VE GONE ON RECORD BEFORE. I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF MASS TRANSIT.

I SEE PALMETTO BREEZE GO IN FRONT OF MY WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY COMPLETELY EMPTY TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND I STRUGGLE WITH SOME OF THOSE THINGS BUT THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS ON IT RIGHT NOW. KEEP IN MIND THE CURRENT PROPOSAL SETS SIZE 60 MILLION DOLLARS FOR GREENBELT. YOU ALL COULD DESIGNATE IT AS I UNDERSTAND IT THE PERCENTAGE OF EACH COLLECTION PERIOD OF EACH QUARTER THAT WOULD GO TOWARD TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AND IT WOULD GO TOWARD GREENBELT. SO YOU COULD SAY, YOU KNOW, IF WE GET 15 MILLION DOLLARS A QUARTER THAN A THIRD THAT GOES TO GREENBELT.

TWO THIRDS GO TO TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS SO THAT THE MONEY WOULD BUILD UP SIX MILLION DOLLARS WE GET THERE, WE'RE DONE. SO THE QUESTION IS IS THIS FLEXIBLE ENOUGH THAT WE COULD BUY DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS WITH THE GREENBELT MONEY?

>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WE POSSIBLY GOT GREENBELT AS LONG AS WE KNOW.

>> I THINK THE PURPOSE OF THAT BEING IN THE REFERENDUM I'LL NEED TO CHECK WITH THE REST OF THE STAFF ON THOSE IS FOR IT TO PROVIDE MULTI MODES OF TRANSPORTATION.

SO WE MAY HAVE TO DO SOME TRAIL CONSTRUCTION AND THINGS LIKE THAT ON THAT LAND AS WELL.

AND AND FURTHERMORE, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL PROBABLY NEEDS TO EVALUATE DO.

DO YOU FEEL THAT IT'S COUNTY RESPONSIBILITY OR NOT? I'M NOT SAYING I HAVE A POSITION EITHER WAY. SOME CONSIDER IS DO YOU FEEL THAT COUNTY RESIDENTS OR PEOPLE THAT ARE PAY THE PENNY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAST PLANNING DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE PUT US IN THE POSITION THAT WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW WITH THE GROWTH IN THE BUYBACK DENSITY AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS THAT WERE NEGOTIATED

BY ADDITIONAL ABOUT AGAIN. >> I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S A GOOD THING OR BAD THING.

>> IT'S JUST SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO TO EVALUATE. ARE WE PAYING FOR THE SINS

OF THE PAST IN THAT WAY? >> WELL, THAT'S GOOD. ALWAYS HAVE WE ALWAYS.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE STILL ARGUING FIVE B FROM 2006. AND OVER THE COURSE OF TIME, YOU KNOW, AS YOU CLEARLY STATED AND RIGHTFULLY SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.

SO WE MAY HAVE TO CREATE NEW ROADS AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW. YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, WISHFUL THINKING ON OUR PART THAT WE COULD JUST FIX WHAT WE HAVE AND IT'S GONNA BE

GOOD FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS. THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE. >> DYSON, QUICK QUESTION.

OUR LOGO IS THE COLLECTION FOR THE RURAL CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM FOUR YEARS AGO.

>> WE'VE THE BOND REFERENDUM WAS AN EIGHTEEN TWENTY FIVE NO. >> OK.

HOW MUCH IS LEFT? ABOUT TWENTY FIVE MILLION. AND BY NO.

OK IT'S NOT IT'S NOT URGENT. BUT IN OF TWELVE OR THIRTEEN. SO WE STILL HAVE 12 MILLION.

AND HOW MUCH WOULD WE GET FROM THIS FOR THE GREEN INITIATIVE EVERY YEAR IF WE DID AN 80 20

14 MILLION RUN 20 MILLION EVERY YEAR ROUGHLY. >> THAT'S PRETTY QUICK MATH 7.

WOW. SO THAT WHEN IT WAS DONE IN TWO YEARS OUT WE'D HAVE TWENTY

EIGHT PLUS TWELVE RIGHT. >> FORTY MILLION DOLLARS. RIGHT.

WOULD WE STOP THEN. NO. WE KEEP COLLECTING.

WHAT'S THE GOAL. 60 MORE 60 MILLION IN THE REFERENDUM IS 60 FOR THE GREEN INITIATIVE. OKAY. WHAT WAS THAT PERCENTAGE SIGN

ON THE 700 IT'S PROBABLY LESS THAN 80 20. >> YEAH YOU DID 80 20 AND YOU COLLECTED 60 MILLION ANNUALLY AFTER WE MADE ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY TO BE 80 20.

[02:10:02]

SO I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE LET IT GO. NO I MEAN I TALKED TO ONE YOU KNOW I'M ALL FOR IT. I DON'T THINK 60 MILLION GONNA GET AS FAR AS WE WANT TO GET TO REALLY MAKE A DENT IN GM. YEAH, THAT'S 60 MILLION. WELL IT'S DESIGNATED BASED ON BECAUSE WE EITHER HIT THE THRESHOLD OF 700 MILLION AND STOP COLLECTING THE TAXES OR WE HIT THE TIME THRESHOLD. THOSE ARE THE INDEX AND WE. WE ALLOCATED THOSE FUNDS SPECIFIC THINGS. NOW WE CAN RAISE THE GREENBELT THING TO 80 PERCENT TO 20 PERCENT. WHAT YOU SAID IS WHAT 140? HE'S BETTER AT MATH BUT THAT WAS ABOUT 140. BUT THEN WE'D HAVE TO SUBTRACT THAT WHAT 80 MILLION DOLLARS FOR SOMEWHERE ELSE? YEAH. YEAH.

OK. TO THE TUNE OF EITHER 1 0 0 0 FOR GREEN SPACE FOR THE 17000 FOR INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH IS MINUS 60000 BUT FOR MORE GREEN SPACE.

SO IF YOU GET SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND OUT SEVEN HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS FOR GREEN SPACE

I WOULD BE FOR IT TO MR. VACHON . >> THANK YOU GARY I.

>> BUT TALK AS BEST YOU CAN. I'M GOING TO TRY SOMETHING WITH MY COMPUTER.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S COMING THROUGH MY COMPUTER OR IS IT ANYBODY HAS A COMPUTER?

>> NO, IT'S NOT COMING THROUGH. >> MAYBE TO GET CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE IT MIGHT BE BETTER CHRIS EVANS OR ELSEWHERE MIGHT BE THINKING OF YOUR IN THE ROOM THERE.

I'M NOT YOUR SPEAKER AND THAT MIGHT HELP AS WELL. WE ALL HAVE OUR SPEAKERS OFF.

>> IT'S FOR WHATEVER REASON IT'S NOT COMING THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

>> OH, OKAY. GO AHEAD. I'M CURIOUS.

MAYBE YOU CAN THEN I'M SURE THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO HEAR IT.

ALL RIGHT. WHAT DO YOU GOT? SO MY GENERAL BELIEF IS GREAT.

FOR EXAMPLE, ON TOP OF THE STRANGE PUTS ON THE OBVIOUS PURPOSE OF ACCOUNTING.

SO I WOULD READ IN FAVOR OF THIS GREEN SPACE IN ALL THE VARIOUS FORTUNE.

GREAT. EVEN THOUGH I'M GENERALLY NOT IN FAVOR OF DOING THIS DIRECT WRITING BY ITSELF I THOUGHT WOULD GO SO FAR AS TO SUGGEST MAYBE WE JUST THOUGHT MAYBE I

QUANTIFIED WHAT MR. LAWSON. >> HI. I THINK THAT BY DOING THIS OBVIOUSLY WE'RE THEN GOING TO AFFECT THE RURAL CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM.

WE WOULD NO LONGER HAVE ONE THE NEXT TIME IT COMES UP FOR A REFERENDUM BECAUSE AGAIN YOU CAN LOOK AT AND SAY WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE SAVING MONEY. WE'RE PAYING MONEY NOW.

SO THAT'S THE ONE BAD OF THE. >> THE REACTION MENTORING AT THE PROS AND CONS OF WHENEVER WE DO THIS I THINK IT WOULD ELIMINATE THE WORLD CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM EVEN THOUGH WE

COULD PUT IT BACK UP FOR A VOTE. >> BUT I DON'T THINK WE'D GET AT THAT POINT. I THINK THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND AND GET THE 1 CENT SALES TAX AND AGAIN I HAVE NOTHING WRONG WITH THE 90 10, 80, 20 TO 75 25

IF THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO. >> WE REALLY NEED INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT . IT'S LIKE EVERYONE YOU TALKED TO IN OUR COMMUNITY KNOWS IT'S KIND OF LIKE SAVING FOR YOUR KID'S COLLEGE EDUCATION.

>> WE KNOW IT'S COMING AND WE'VE GOT TO SAY FOR WE'VE GOT TO DO IT.

SO I REALLY THINK THAT THE PEOPLE ARE GONNA GET PAST THIS AND GO FOR IT.

>> WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT YET WHEN WE'RE GONNA DO THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS DO IT THIS FALL AND PUSH FOR IT. AND AS I SOLVE MY GRANDSON IS SIX, CAME HOME FROM KINDERGARTEN. HE HAD A PIECE OF PAPER AND HE SHOWED IT TO ME AND IT WAS THIS BABY BIRD IN THE NEST AND THE BABY BIRD WAS GETTING READY TO JUMP IN.

BIG BIRD SAID WHAT IF I FAIL? AND THEN THE MOTHER BURKE SAID WELL WHAT IF YOU FLY? SO THAT'S THE THING WE NEED TO MOVE FOR THIS PUSH IT NOW. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WE GET THIS THROUGH BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA NEED IT. I LOVE THE THOUGHTS OF THE GREEN SPACE BUT MAN, WE DID THIS BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW MUCH WE NEED THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO I'D HATE TO SEE US PUT A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON GREEN SPACE. HOWEVER, I THINK IT WOULD HELP

SELL THE WHOLE PACKAGE SOME IS BETTER THAN GETTING IT PASSED. >> YEAH MAN I SAID BRIAN

WINTERS WHAT DO YOU MEAN? >> TALKING ABOUT WORK IN GREEN SPACE OR WHATEVER.

MEAN THAT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET. THAT'S NOT.

I WOULDN'T BUY IT REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WE HAVE. MIKE YOU KNOW REGARDING OKATIE

STEWART FINGER A GOOD SCOOP. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> A COUPLE SITES IT DOES

[02:15:04]

I DON'T SENSE THAT WE GENERATE VERY MUCH MONEY COMPARED TO THE NUMBER OF PROPERTIES THAT ARE BIG DEVELOPED OUT THERE BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING IN THE BILLIONS THAT ARE GOING TO COME.

I THINK SENATOR DAVIS WAS COMING FROM PERHAPS WAS SHOULD WE BE CONSIDERING FIRST

SPLITTING IT IN TWO? >> SO YOU HAVE TWO REFERENDUMS AND I DON'T KNOW WHICH HAS THE HIGHER PROBABILITY TO PASS. BUT I KIND OF HAVE A GUT FEEL THAT YOU MIGHT DO BETTER IF YOU SPLIT IT BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT FOR FACT. BUT JUST NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION TO ESSENTIALLY SAY WHY DON'T WE DO A PENNY OF BOTH YOU BELIEVE YOU'LL DO ONE FOR THE GREEN SPACE WHICH I THINK THE PEOPLE MAY BUY INTO BASED ON OUR HISTORY WITH THE RURAL CRITICAL PROGRAM AND THEN MAYBE DO ONE FOR THE SAME POLITICIAN SAME TIME STAGGERING TWO YEARS

OR WHATEVER. >> BUT I DO THINK IT'S THE DROP IN THE BUCKET THAT I DON'T THINK WE CAN MEASURE. IF WE'RE ONLY PUTTING A SMALL PERCENTAGE IN MAYBE SOMEBODY

COULD MAKE SOME CALCULATIONS ARE WHAT YOU WOULD PAY FOR. >> I JUST KNOW HOW IT IS TRYING TO SELL A PERCENT DURING EVERY SINGLE NEWSCAST SAYING WE'RE HEADED TOWARDS A RECESSION.

IT SOUNDS LIKE AN EPIC DISASTER TO ONE THING YOU ALL MAY CONSIDER YOU WANT A HALF PENNY FOR TRANSPORTATION. TAKE THE GREENBELT STUFF OUT THE TRASH TAKES REFERENDUM AND DO AN I HAVE PENNY FOR THE GREENBELT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SENATOR DAVIS PROPOSAL BECAUSE IF YOU DO THAT THEN WE CAN USE ANY HALF PENNY THROUGH SENATOR DAY WE CAN USING THE NOT ONLY CAN WE USE THE MONEY TO PURCHASE GREEN SPACE, WE CAN ALSO USE THAT MONEY BECAUSE VISE CHAIRMAN SOMERVILLE AND I WHEN MR. DAVIS WHEN SENATOR DAVIS PRESENTED THAT PROPOSAL TO US, WE ASK HIM TO ADD LANGUAGE INTO THE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO USE THE HALF PENNY TO DO THE DEBT SERVICE ON ANY OTHER OPEN SPACE BONDS SO WE COULD ALSO USE THAT HAVE PENNY TO PROVIDE THE DEBT SERVICE FOR THE EXISTING RULE IN CRITICAL LANDS BON SO THAT IT WOULD NOT HIT THE PROPERTY OWNERS IN AVALANCHE TAXES AND THAT MIGHT BE A WAY TO SELL BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE TRULY A ROLLBACK OF TAXES BECAUSE EVERY YEAR YOU ALL HAVE TO SET A MILL RATE TO PROVIDE THE DEBT FOR FROM THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM.

>> AND DID I UNDERSTAND AND HIS REFERENDUM IS A LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX?

>> YEAH, HE SAID YES IT'S LOCAL UP TO TWO REFERENDUMS HALF PENNY EACH IS THAT WE'RE

SAYING. >> SO THE A LOCAL OPTION THAT WOULD FIT 71 PERCENT OF THAT HAVE TO THEN TO TAX RELIEF IF IT'S A LOCAL OPTION SALE AND GATHERS THAT'S NOT LOST.

>> IT'S NOT. HE CALLED IT PIECE THOUGH HE ACTUALLY SAID IT WAS.

>> HE SAID IT WAS LOST. YEAH YEAH. HE SAID IT WAS A LOCAL ISSUE WAS FEMA. I DON'T THINK THAT IS ME. I DON'T THINK THAT'S ACCURATE.

SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TONIGHT IS WE EITHER NEED TO HOLD SECOND OR EATING OR WIN UNTIL

THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING SO WE CAN GET ALL OF THIS WORK OUT. >> AND AT THE STAFF LEVEL AND CRAFT A RECOMMENDATION BACK TO YOU. ALL OF THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT BOTH AND WE CAN DO THAT. YEAH, YOU ALL MAY HAVE TO HOLD A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING IN ORDER TO GET THIS DONE SO WE CAN GET IT TO THE BALLOT IN AUGUST.

>> BUT WHAT I'M HAPPY FOR STAFF TO WORK ON THIS HARD AND FAST TO GIVE YOU ALL A RECOMMENDATION INSTEAD OF US TRYING TO DO SOMETHING TONIGHT WHERE ONE MIGHT SAY ONE QUIT.

>> YEAH, GO AHEAD. IF WE DID THE HALF CENT ON THE GREEN BELT AND THEN THE TRANSPORTATION IT BOTH WOULD HAVE A TWILIGHT RIGHT OF TEN YEARS OK.

THEY COULD HAVE DIFFERENT OR THEY COULD HAVE OCCURRED BY LIGHT.

RIGHT. I MEAN WE COULD WE JUST HAVE TO WE'LL HAVE TO RESEARCH ALL THAT

CAUSE THIS NEW LEGISLATION IS SO NEW. >> WE DON'T WE DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS THAT I WOULD I I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH US RECOMMENDING ANYTHING TO YOU ON

MY SIDE. >> I LIKE THAT BECAUSE I SENSE FROM COUNTY COUNCIL WE ARE IN FAVOR OF MOVING FORWARD WITH A TRANSPORTATION REFERENDUM WILL WEAR WELL AWARE OF THE NEED TO

PRESERVE LAND AS WELL. >> IT IS THE FUNCTION OF PUTTING THEM TOGETHER THAT WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH RIGHT AS TO WHAT IS THE BEST WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SUCCESS IN THIS FALL. I SENSE THAT IT IS BEST THAT WE GO OUT NOW BECAUSE THE LONGER WE WAIT THE MORE EXPENSIVE IT IS OR THE MORE TIME WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO COLLECT THE MONEY TO

[02:20:01]

FIX EVERYTHING. >> I AGREE AND I THINK IF WE GET IF WE CAN SELL THE GREEN SPACE THING AS HALF PENNY TO DO GREEN SPACE THAT WOULD PROVIDE DEBT SERVICE FOR THE EXISTING NON-CRITICAL LAM BOND THE NOT SO GREAT INCENTIVE FOR PROPERTY OWNERS EXISTING PROPERTY OWNERS TO VOTE FOR IT BECAUSE AGAIN WE CAN USE THAT MONEY TO DO DEBT SERVICE FOR THE BOND AND DO A ROLLBACK ON THE MILLAGE FOR THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS DEBT AND RAISE MONEY AND RAISE THE

MONEY YOU SEE IT IS TWO SEPARATE VOTES. >> YES I WOULD TOO.

ALSO I THINK IF YOU START SOMETHING LIKE THAT YOU START WITH A HALF PENNY OR WHATEVER.

>> I THINK IT'S ALWAYS EASIER IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS TO BUMP IT BOTH IN TERMS OF LENGTH OR DOLLAR AMOUNT. ONCE YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING IN PLACE YOU DEMONSTRATING ITS WORKING TITLE I LIKE THE IDEA OF TAKING SOME TIME IF WE HAVE FOR ONE OR TWO SPECIAL MEETINGS AND DO IT RIGHT. OH I'M SORRY I KEEP INTERRUPTING.

>> YEAH. COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM. OH YOU'RE FINE.

SO THIS IS ONE MORE QUESTION. SO YOU'RE SAYING IT HAD TO BE TWO DIFFERENT REFERENDUMS?

>> I THINK SO, YEAH. IN ORDER FOR US TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DEBT SERVICE RIGHT OFF TO DO THE PLANNING FOR THE GREEN SPACE. SO I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT LOGIC FISCALLY BUT IF WE'RE TALKING GETTING SOMETHING PASSED THIS IS OUR LEVERAGE TO GET THE TRANSPORTATION PASS IS PUTTING. SO WE LOSE THAT LEVERAGE NOW.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE DOING THE EXACT SAME THING WE TRIED TO DO LAST YEAR.

ONE COULD LOSE SO YOU CAN HAVE ONE LOSING ONE PASS. NOW WE NO LONGER HAVE THAT LEVERAGE TO USE IT NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER WHETHER IT WOULD ALL BE ABOUT THE MARKETING AT THAT WANT TO SAY IT'S TWO SEPARATE ITEMS BUT IT'S A COMPLETE PACKAGE AND WE WOULD

HAVE TO EDUCATE. >> DOES THAT MEAN THEY'LL GET IT DONE ACROSS THAT WAY? YOU'RE RIGHT. I'M JUST SAYING I THINK THAT'S A WORRY OF MINE.

YEAH, IT IS. THAT IS A BIG WORRY. WELL, I ALSO DON'T KNOW THAT,

YOU KNOW, A PENNY WOULD PASS ON ITS OWN. >> CORRECT.

MY SECOND THING IS I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POSTPONING SECOND VOTE.

I DON'T MAKE THE SAME ARGUMENT I MADE LAST NIGHT WHEN YOU HAVE THAT SAME POSTPONEMENT ON THE THIRD READING. SO IF WE DON'T HAVE TO LOSE ANY TIME WE DON'T MEANING WE CAN TAKE TWO WEEKS THEIR NEXT MEETING SO WE COULD COME TO THE THIRD READING AND IF WE CAME UP WITH SOMETHING GREAT AND WE COULD DISCUSS IT RIGHT THEN AND THERE AND THEN IF WE DID IT POSTPONE THE THIRD READING THAT WAY WE DON'T PUT OURSELVES BEHIND OF APRIL AND READ YOUR MATERIAL OR MATERIALS MEANS WE CAN TAKE THE WORK MARK WE HAVE TO START OUT YOU KNOW IN ORDER

TO GET I THINK MIKE MEEHAN IS THE THINGS WE'RE MEETING. >> SO WE THINK THAT WHAT WE WANT TO DO WHAT'S THAT'S REGULATED IN THE DIFFERENT ECONOMIC MODES THAT WE PLACE

INCLUDING MEANING TO TELL THEM . >> ALL RIGHT.

SO MR. PHIL WALLING HAS MADE A MOTION THAT WE POSTPONE THE SECOND READING UNTIL THE NEXT

COUNCIL MEETING. >> AND MR. GLOVER WILL SECOND THAT.

MAY I COMMENT THEN? YES, SIR. THAT'S EXACTLY MY POINT.

IT IS A HUGE CHANGE. SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE THE CHANGE TODAY EITHER WAY.

SO WHY WOULD WE POSTPONE? NOW WE CAN STUDY IT LATER. WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME IN AND SAY FIRST READING IS IN THE NEXT ONE ANYWAYS. WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK.

THEY'RE WILLING TO AND STILL HAVE THE CLOSED PUBLIC MEETING MAKE THEIR FUNDAMENTAL THINGS READING. YEAH, YOU CAN'T DO THAT THEORY .

>> YEAH. WHAT CAN YOU DO HISTORICALLY? START ALL OVER YOU.

>> THAT'S WHY WE NEED IT NOW. LOOKS LIKE MEETINGS WITH START ALL HISTORICALLY AND B FOR

DOWNING WHAT'S HAPPENED? >> IF SOMETHING'S AMENDED AT THIRD READING AND IT'S SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH THEN IT REVERTS BACK FOR SECOND READING ANYWAY BEFORE YOU CAN GO TO THIRD. SO IF WE POSTPONE IT AND I DON'T WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE AT SECOND READING WE CAN DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND THEN YOU ALL CAN GIVE IT A SECOND READING AND THEN GIVE THIRD READING AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.

>> YOU'RE NOT GONNA LOSE EITHER EITHER WAY. YEAH, IT'S HEARSAY.

IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE SAME TIME CYCLE AS WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING.

>> OKAY. OKAY. DOES EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND MR. FLOW WELLINGS AMENDED MOTION AND MR. GLOVER'S SECOND AND THIS WILL BE DONE WITHOUT OBJECTION. ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? NO.

JACKSON BUT THIS WILL MAKE ONE COMMENT TO THE ADMINISTRATION WHEN YOU COME BACK.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE MATH ON ALL OF THIS. BECAUSE I DON'T WANT US TO SHORTEN OR TO DEPRIVE INFRASTRUCTURE AT ALL. SO I JUST WANT TO SEE THE MATH . THE ANTICIPATED REVENUE COMING FROM ALL OF THIS.

I AM A LOVER OF GREEN SPEED. BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT WE GOT TO HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE IN IT SO WE GOT A GOOD PROPOSAL GOING FORWARD RIGHT NOW. SO YEAH, I DO THE MATH ON HOW I

[02:25:06]

WOULD JUST CAUTION COUNCIL WILL DO THE MATH. >> I WON'T DO THE MATH.

YOU KNOW YOU'LL PAY THEM THE COUNCIL MEMORY LOSS AND SOUNDS LIKE HE COULD DO THE MATH FROM THERE. BUT AKIYAMA I'M A PLANNER BUT I WOULD WE WILL WE WILL PUT TOGETHER A GOOD SCENARIO AND WITH A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND OPTIONS AND LIKELIHOOD OF HOW EACH OPTION MIGHT PLAY OUT FOR YOU ALL.

>> AFTER DOING THAT RESEARCH I WOULD CAUTION YOU ALL THAT IF YOU DO A PAINTING FOR GREEN SPACE THAT THAT'S GOING BE FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUYING DOWN DENSITY THAT WE DON'T THAT WE HAVE THE MUNICIPALITIES ON BOARD WITH THAT BECAUSE THAT NEEDS TO BE APPLIED TO EXISTING DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS IN PLACE AND NOT BAD DEALS IN THE FUTURE THAT YOU KNOW DEVELOPERS CAN SAY OH WELL I GOT THIS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT APPROVED THIS MISS POUTY I WANT YOU ALL TO BUY MY BOB MY GREENS BUT DOWN MY DYNASTY NOW BECAUSE I GOT THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT

AGREEMENT UPGRADE. >> SO THAT MAKES US TO DEALING WITH THE MISSPELLED THAT

THEY'VE GOT THEIR OWN PROBLEMS. >> WELL, THAT'S WHAT THIS WILL BE HIM.

WE DON'T WE DON'T HAVE ANY DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS WHERE WE NEED TO BUY DOWN DEBT.

BUT I THINK WE'LL SEE MORE ENDLESS DEBATE ON THIS. >> I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT IT'S COMING BUT I DON'T WANT YOU TO MOVE ON. YEAH, YEAH.

>> YOU AND I ARE SAYING THE SAME AND WE'RE GOOD. YEAH, I'M PRETTY SURE YOU JUST LEFT THE MEETING HIRED. I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MOMENTS LIKE THAT BUT JUST A HEADS UP TALL YOU GUYS BEING OPEN AND HONEST. I WILL LAND THERE NEXT READING.

MOTION TO MOVE TO REWORD BLUFFTON TO MATCH BASICALLY WHAT OUR WHICH ONE WAS A LADY'S ISLAND HOW WE TALKED ABOUT JUST THE IMPROVEMENTS SO AND TAKES OUT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT STAYS TO SPECIFIC EXISTING ROADS.

WELL, WE'LL DEBATE THAT AS WELL. OKAY.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION IN SECOND TO AMEND TO POSTPONE THE SECOND READING TO THIS EVENING TO THE

NEXT COUNCIL MEETING WHICH WILL BE JULY 1 21. >> JUNE 27.

>> RIGHT. OK. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION SEEING NO OBJECTION. THE MOTION CARRIES. AND THE SECOND READING IS

[15. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS 36 HUNTER ROAD FOR THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT EXPANSION PROJECT (FISCAL IMPACT: PROPOSED PURCHASE PRICE $947,500; FAA VIA BIL AIG GRANT REIMBURSEMENT $814,500; AIRPORT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR $133,000 WHICH WILL BE PAID WITH ARPA FUNDS)]

SO MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. RODMAN MAKES THE MOTIONS A SECOND I'LL SECOND MISS HOWARD MAKES THE

[16. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ALLOCATE HOSPITALITY TAX FUNDS FOR THE EMERGENCY REPAIR OF THE SANDS BOAT LANDING (FISCAL IMPACT: HOSPITALITY TAX REVENUES NOT TO EXCEED $177,000)]

SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO DISCUSSION.

>> THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION. ITEM NUMBER 16 IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ALLOCATE HOSPITALITY TAX FUNDS FOR THE EMERGENCY REPAIR OF THE SANDS BOTH LANDING ON COMMOTION MR. CHAIRMAN TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION.

MISS HOWARD MAKES THE MOTION A SECOND, PLEASE. MR. GLOVER MAKES THE SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? YES, SIR. I WILL VOTE AGAINST IT BUT I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO DO THREE READINGS ON THESE THESE THINGS.

>> WE'RE APPROPRIATING FUNDS JUST TO GET SOME KIND OF A BLANKET APPROPRIATION.

WE GO BACK AND SAY WE JUST FINISHED A WE WANT IT. I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S CORRECT.

OK. SO LET ME MAKE IT ASSURED THAT COUNTLESS ALWAYS AWARE OF SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL MIGHT NEED TO CORRECT THEM BASED ON THAT.

>> COUNCILMAN RODMAN IS CORRECT. >> IN ORDER FOOD AID ALLOCATE

EGG TAX MONEY UNDER THE CURRENT ORDINANCE. >> IT REQUIRES AN ORDINANCE THREE READINGS I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT YOU ALL COUNSEL I ASK THAT WE CHANGE THAT PROCESS TO MAKE IT A RESOLUTION AND A SINGLE READING THAT IS THAT CHANGE IS IN THE BUDGET THAT YOU ALL JUST GAVE A SECOND READING TO TONIGHT. IF YOU ALL DO NOT WANT US TO APPROVE THE TAX ALLOCATIONS BY RESOLUTIONS AND ONE READING YOU NEED TO TELL ME NOW SO THAT I CAN TAKE THAT OUT AND GET THAT CHANGED PRIOR TO THE THIRD READING BECAUSE THAT'S IN THERE

. >> CHAIRMAN, THAT DEBATE FOR ANOTHER NIGHT AS WELL I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WE CAN AMEND OUR RULES BY WHAT YOU MEAN BY A I'LL LET OUR LEGAL

COUNSEL WEIGH IN ON THAT ADDRESS THE BEYOND HERE. >> YEAH, COUNCIL IS GOING TO

[02:30:13]

WEIGH IN ON YOUR QUESTION. >> THIS ORDERED IN AT NUMBER 16 .

THIS IS AN EXCEPTION TO THE REQUIREMENT OF AN ORDINANCE IF IT IS AN EMERGENCY PURPOSE WHICH IS HOW THAT RESOLUTION IS WRITTEN. THEN THE FUNDS CAN BE ALLOCATED THROUGH THAT HOSPITALITY TAX FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN EMERGENCY BECAUSE IT'S AN EMERGENCY. CORRECT. I CAN ACCEPT THAT IS THAT IS THE EXCEPTION TO THE ORDINANCE. BUT AS COUNTY MINISTER YOU JUST STATED OUR CURRENT BUDGET DOES HAVE LANGUAGE IN IT THAT IS GOING TO ALLOW FOR RESOLUTIONS TO BE USED MOVING FORWARD.

>> WE SHOULDN'T CHANGE THAT BECAUSE WE'RE APPROPRIATING PUBLIC FUNDS.

THEY DESERVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING. WELL, OK.

BUT THIS ONE IS AN APPROPRIATE RESOLUTION, CORRECT BECAUSE OF THE EMERGENCY BACKGROUND.

>> ALL RIGHT. SO IT'S I IF I IF I MIGHT I MEAN YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE BUDGET YOU'RE READING ON HASN'T HAS A RESOLUTION YET ARE AN ORDINANCE CHANGES THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS IN ALLOCATING MONEY AND IN SPITE OF YOUR PUBLIC THING WE CAN DO IT WITH ONE

THAT HAS OCCURRED? >> THAT IS CORRECT. I WOULD ALSO DEFER TO OUR DEVOTION TO RECONSIDER THAT RULE JUST APPROVED BECAUSE THIS IS NEW INFORMATION I'M IT'S

UNLIKELY THOUGH THAT WE WOULD DO THAT. >> THAT WOULD BE ITEM NUMBER NETWORKS NETWORKS FILE. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER AROUND 12:00 SO THERE IS SECOND TO RECONSIDER I GUESS I'M MISSING SOME MR. HERBERT SHARON MAKES THE SECOND POINT ASK FOR KURT TO EXPLAIN TO YOU ALL ONE THAT CHANGE WAS MADE.

>> MAY ASK AND BACKGROUND DEPARTMENT I UNDERSTAND AND THE COUNCIL HAS FOR THAT ENEMY IT'S CERTAINLY NOT TO BE MADE A MEETING. YEAH I WAS.

I'M SORRY MR. TOILET IT WAS AT LEAST YOU'VE GOT TO BE I'M REMEMBERING I WAS THERE.

YOU DIDN'T WORK. ARE YOU BEING ADVISED SO NOT TERRIBLE.

A COUNCIL MEETING MAY HAVE MAYBE MEETING AND PAVEMENTS SOME OTHER MEETING WASN'T A MEETING WHERE NABLUS PAST AND I'D LIKE I'D LIKE YOU TO GET THAT RAISED.

MR. TAYLOR, IF YOU WOULD SEND ME WHERE IT CAME FROM IN THE WITH OK GOT DISCUSSED ON THE

JOB AT THE COMPANY JIMMY FIRST DEGREE OR DISRUPTING THE GAVEL? >> YOU'RE NOT HOLDING SALE ON

THE MAP. >> THAT'S NOT WHAT WAS NOT ARGUE YOU GO IT WAS NOT WORTH THE MEETING AND THIS IS A SURPRISE. IT'S VERY NO DOCUMENTED QUITE LIKE THAT. IT'S NOT REAL. I NEED TO RECONSIDER MY VOTE.

>> DOUBT DOCUMENTS MR. US WHAT IT IS GATHERING WAS NOT A MEETING OF AT LEAST MIDTOWN DIDN'T BRING THIS UP ON MY OWN WAS IT AT LEAST HELPS ME SAYING I WISH WE CAN STREAMLINE THIS

PROTEST. >> I TOOK THE ADMINISTRATOR AT THE TIME TO DEAL WITH THE BUDGET YEAR. JUST LET'S PUSH UP THE COST OF WANT TO YOU DON'T THINK YOU CAN MAKE MUCH MONEY READING WHAT I'M DOING IS IT WASN'T EVEN HER IT WAS BY MEMBER.

I DEFINITELY THINK MY VOTE CHAIRMAN LET ME I'M ALL I'M A PUSHBACK ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER FLEW ON YOU ALL ASK US ALL THE TIME COUNCIL MEMBERS ASK US ALL THE TIME TO

DO THINGS FOR CONSIDER RATIO. >> I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION PRIOR TO SECOND READING. I INTENDED TO DO SO BUT THE MEETING KIND OF GOT AWAY FROM ME TONIGHT WITH ALL OF THE PRESENTATIONS AND I LOSE TRACK OF EVERYTHING THAT I'M I MEAN TO BRING UP BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE AN OFFICIAL VOTE ACCOUNT SO IN A MEETING FOR US TO CONSIDER FULFILLING INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS REQUEST FOR US TO DO THINGS FOR THE FULL BODY TO TO CONSIDER IN A MEETING. SO I'M ALL RIGHT.

>> HERE MIKE. WHY NOT? THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD.

SOMETHING ELSE TO DISCUSS. OKAY. MY PROBLEM IS YOU LOVE YOU IF YOU WANT TO HAVE ACCOUNTS NO CHANGE NOT YOUR TIME AND NOTHING SPECIAL.

[02:35:08]

I'M NOT WOULD DO THAT. >> WE HAVE WE HAVE RULES AND WE NEED TO DISCUSS CHANGING THOSE RULES INDIVIDUALLY AND AS OUT AS A WHOLE CONCEPT AND NOT NOT JUST PART OF SOME OMNIBUS BILL.

WE DON'T DO THAT AT COUNTY COUNCIL. PLEASE, MR. CHAIRMAN, I CALL THE QUESTION. IT IS NON DEBATABLE AND IT NEEDS TO DISCUSS WHERE IT NEEDS

TO BE VOTED ON RIGHT NOW. >> THIS IS LAID OUT VERY LATE HOUR.

LET'S CUT THE CHATTER, GET THE BUSINESS DONE. >> IT IS A RECONSIDERATION OF ITEM NUMBER 12 WHICH WAS THE PUBLIC HEARING IN THE SECOND READING OF THE BUDGET.

>> IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE CALL THE ROLL ON THIS ONE? ONE I LEAVE WE SIMPLY QUESTION THE QUESTION IS WE WOULD RECONSIDER THE SECOND READING OF THE ITEM NUMBER 12 THE BUDGET AND THE THE TWO INDIVIDUALS WOULD BE NO VOTES

AT THIS POINT IN TIME. >> WHAT'S THE REASON FOR THE RECONSIDERATION? BECAUSE MR. WELLINGS SAYS THERE IS LANGUAGE IN THE BUDGET DOCU THAT REFERS.

CHANGING THE PROCEDURES WE HAVE NOW FROM AN ORDINANCE WHICH WOULD REQUIRE THREE READINGS TO A RESOLUTION WHICH WOULD REQUIRE ONE READING IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

>> NO, NO. ANYTIME ANYTIME. OK.

IN OTHER WORDS, THIS THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 17 THAT WE HAVE REGARDING THE STANDS.

THAT'S ALREADY COVERED . WE ALREADY HAVE AUTHORITY IN AN EMERGENCY TO SPEND THAT MONEY.

AND SO WE ALREADY HAVE THAT AUTHORITY. WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IS CHANGING OUR OUR AUDIENCE OR CHANGING OUR AUDIENCES SO THAT INSTEAD OF THREE TO READINGS PUBLIC HEARING FOR ANY EXPENDITURE OF MONEY IT WOULD BE A RESOLUTION STOCK.

CORRECT. IT'S ONLY FOR A TAX AND STEPS FOR A TAX MEAN THAT'S OK.

SO BEFORE WE TAKE THIS RECONSIDERATION, DID WE EVER TAKE A VOTE ON ITEM NUMBER 16? I DON'T BELIEVE SO. I DON'T BELIEVE WE DID. IS THAT CORRECT? WE DID NOT. RIGHT. SO HOLD YOUR RECONSIDERATION TILL WE TAKE THE ACTION AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO YOUR RECONSIDERATION, ED, BECAUSE WE

CAN DO THAT TODAY. >> SO ITEM NUMBER 16 IS A LEGITIMATE RESOLUTION BECAUSE

IT IS AN EMERGENCY REPAIR. >> IT HAS BEEN DULY MOTION SECONDED AND DISCUSSED.

THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION. ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS?

[12. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENT, SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2022, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2023 (Part 2 of 2)]

A TAX ON EACH BUT IT'S ONLY FOR A TAX ON AGE TAX. >> OK.

SO I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THAT IT IS ONLY FOR A TAX AN AGE TAX AND 12 DID NOT ANTICIPATE A TAX

IN EACH TAX. >> I THINK THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE DEALS.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH A TAX. >> ANY TIME A TAX BREAK WE THINK. RIGHT. SO YEAH, THAT'S JUST COUNTY BUDGET BACK. SO THAT'S. SO IT'S NOT A WORD WE KNOW SO LITTLE ABOUT IT. MR. CHAIRMAN, WE COULDN'T HAVE KNOWN WHAT WE WERE VOTING ON.

AND WE NEED TO GIVE THE COUNCIL AN OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON.

>> RIGHT. SO LET'S RECONSIDER THIS SO WE CAN MAKE AN EMOTION TO TO DO SOMETHING ELSE. OK. SO DO YOU WISH TO WITHDRAW YOUR

MOTION THAT NO. >> I WANT I WANT WE HAVE THAT WE HAVE TO WITHDRAW IT IN ORDER TO MAKE IT STILL SECOND READING AND SO LET'S LET'S GO AHEAD AND HAVE THIS OK?

>> SO A RECONSIDERATION OF THE SECOND READING. RIGHT.

RIGHT. OK. SO YES, YOU WILL CALL THE ROLL MR. FLEMING MADE THE MOTION SO HE VOTES FIRST AND THEN MR. HERBERT VOTES SECOND AND THEN

[02:40:06]

GO DOWN THE LIST. >> I VOTE YES TO RECONSIDER. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER. >> YES. COUNCIL MEMBER RODMAN YES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER HOWARD YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON. MARK LAWSON YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCGOWAN YES. >> AND CHAIRMAN BASSINET YEAH. I MIGHT AS WELL SAY YES TO VISE

CHAIR SOMERVILLE BY THE FIRST VOTE YES. >> JEREMY JEREMY MY UNDERSTANDING. OH YEAH. SO YOU SAY YES THIS THING WILL BE THAT EASY. HE'S LOOKING RIGHT AT IT. LAKE LOGAN ALL RIGHT.

OH YEAH IT'S RIGHT HERE. IS THIS THE END ROBERTS OR IS THE WATER THAT PERSON SECOND AWAITING A MOTION STATEMENT? IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING AS WELL?

>> THE FIRST AND THE SECOND OF THE ORIGINAL MOTION STAND. YES.

ALL RIGHT. SO THE MOTION. AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, I DON'T THINK ANY AMENDMENTS HAPPENED. I'D LIKE TO OFFER THIS AMENDMENT, SIR, THAT ANY LANGUAGE REGARDING CHANGING THE PROCEDURE OF APPROVING EXPENDITURES IN BEAUFORT COUNTY CONTAINED WITHIN THAT ORDINANCE BE REMOVED AND WE'LL DISCUSS IT AT A LATER TIME. WE'LL HAVE A WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PASS AN ORDINANCE. BUT THAT'S MY MOTION THAN ANY LANGUAGE REGARDING CHANGE THE

PROCEDURE FOR PASSING A BUDGET AUTHORIZATION BE REMOVED. >> OK.

IF I CAN MAKE A SUGGESTION. COUNCILMAN, I KNOW YOUR CONCERN IS DIRECTED TOWARDS THAT ACCOMMODATION AND A HOSPITALITY TAX. THERE IS A TO ACTUALLY ANY EXPENDITURE IT NEEDS TO BE THREE READINGS AND A PUBLIC HEARING IF IT'S QUIET.

>> CURRENTLY WE NEED WE. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A CHANGE. WE NEED TO DISCUSS CHANGE AS A COUNCIL. SO THAT THERE IS A SPECIFIC SECTION OF THE CURRENT BUDGET ORDINANCE THAT I THINK WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR YOU TO MAKE THE MOTION DIRECTED SPECIFICALLY AT

THAT. >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ ME THAT SECTION? I CANNOT HAVE IT RIGHT HERE IF YOU WOULD LIKE IS SECTION TWENTY ONE THE EXPENDITURE OF STATE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX AND LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS AND HOSPITALITY TAX FUNDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 66 ARTICLE 2.

THIS AUDIENCE HEREBY AUTHORIZES THE APPROPRIATION AND UTILIZATION OF STATE ACCOMMODATION TAX FUNDS AND LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS, TAXES AND HOSPITALITY FUNDS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED BY THE ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION BY COUNTY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO OTHER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT CHANGING ORDINANCES

REGARDING EXPENDITURE OR FUNDS. >> I WOULD DEFER TO ATTORNEY CURT TAYLOR.

I DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE BUT HE IS THE DRAFTING ATTORNEY FOR THIS.

>> THERE IS ONLY ONE SECTION. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU'VE BEEN HERE WITH ME.

I'VE MADE A MOTION THAT WE REMOVE SECTION 21 FROM THE ORDINANCE.

SECOND AMENDMENT STAND STILL STAND. >> THE OTHER TWO ABSTAINED.

YES. YES. >> YES.

YEAH. EVERYTHING ELSE STANDS. >> ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY CLEAR ON THE REMOVAL OF THAT LANGUAGE WHICH WILL KEEP IT AT THREE READINGS UNLESS IT IS AN

EMERGENCY. >> OK. THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE REMOVAL OF THAT SECTION. YES, I SEE NO OBJECTION.

>> SO THAT IS APPROVED. >> SO ESSENTIALLY I WOULD SUGGEST A FAIR BUDGET WITHOUT

OBJECTION. WELL. >> YES.

SO NOW WE'RE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION WITH THE TWO AMENDMENTS AND THE

RECONSIDERATION WHICH AMENDED IT AGAIN. >> YES.

OK, EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT . IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO DISCUSSION IT WILL BE APPROVED AS TO THE THREE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE CONTAINED

IN THEIR HAVING NO OBJECTIONS. >> THE ITEM NUMBER 12 IS APPROVED WITH THOSE CHANGES.

[17. CITIZEN COMMENTS ]

MY NAME'S WAYNE SMITH. ACTUALLY I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A TAX MONEY. I MEAN THE THE YEAH. THE EPA.

I WE I BELIEVE MY CALL ESA FUNDS YOU I'M NOT SURE BY THE AMERICAN CARES THAT MONEY THE

[02:45:02]

INVOLVEMENT. >> AND JUST TO HAVE TO HAVE AND I'M NOT HERE HAVE ANY COMMITTEE MEETINGS DIRECTLY TOWARDS ESA FUNDS. BUT WHAT I HAVE HEARD OF IS THAT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HAS A ESA FUND TEAM THAT IS COMPRISED OF DIFFERENT BUSINESSES AND THEY DID. THE DIFFERENCE IS DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THE COUNTY.

>> SO WHEREAS THE COMMUNITY REALLY BEING INVOLVED AND THEN WE BRING IT A LITTLE MORE

CLOSER TO YOU. >> ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IT AS WELL IS THAT WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE A COUPLE OF WEEKS SO HOW MUCH CASKETS HAVE YOU GUYS SEEN UP

HERE? >> GLASS YOU HAVE SEEN A LOT OF CASKETS AND WE COULD TALK ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IN HAND AND EVERY DEPARTMENT IS LIZ'S OFFICE ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO IN THIS TOWN. BUT UNTIL WE GET SOMETHING FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATION START DOING BECAUSE IF YOU GO ON A SATURDAY NIGHT OR FRIDAY NIGHT TO THAT WATERFRONT IT'S PACKED WITH OUR BABY DOWN THERE IS PACKED A LITTLE BOYS GIRLS WHO HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO.

>> THE YOUNGER GENERATION FROM 30 TO RUN FROM FROM TWENTY FIVE TO SEVEN POINT FIVE MAYBE EVEN

FOR EVEN 40. >> WHAT DOES IT DO? HOW HOW HOW ARE PUTTING THE MONEY AND BEFORE COUNTY TO SUPPORT THE COUNTY ALL THESE DOLLARS THEIR BODIES THAT WE'RE GETTING IN THE COUNTY BLOOD THE DOESN'T THE BUZZ ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL IN BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT JUST GAVE US A TON OF OUR TOMORROW A TON OF MONEY TO HELP THIS COUNTY OUT.

>> AND THE QUESTION IS WHERE'S THAT MONEY GOING? >> HOW ARE WE SPENDING THAT MONEY? ME PERSONALLY I'M TAXING THE CASKETS.

>> I'M TIRED OF SEEING IT. >> I'VE COME TO OUR SEVERAL TIMES I SPECIMEN HE'S LOOKING

ABOUT THE TIME TO SEE HOW LONG BEFORE I'LL FINISH STOPS. >> IT'S ABSURD AND IS DISRESPECTFUL TO THE COMMUNITY THAT CAN REALLY FEELS THAT WAY .

>> I'VE HAD PEOPLE WHO'VE ASKED ME WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATION. I THOUGHT WE HAD SKATING RINKS. WE HAD DIFFERENT THINGS FOR YOUNG YOUNG TO DO. WE DON'T HAVE THAT ANYMORE. AND WE'VE A COUNTY WORKING YOUNG KIDS. WE DON'T HAVE A MOVIE THEATERS. THEY TOOK THE NOVEL PUBLIX.

SO WHAT'S NEXT? KEPT ME FIGURED OUT KIND OF COUNCIL.

THAT'S WHY WE. THAT'S WHY YOU ARE ELECTED. THEY ALL SEE THAT THIS THING IS INNOCENT. THE SENIOR CITIZEN POWER ALSO ON THE ISLAND AND THE IDEA TOOK THOSE YUPPIES UP UP AND UP HOUSE COMMITTEES. THEY'RE UPSET AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. YOU TOOK IT UP ON THE POWER OF THE POWERS AND ALL THESE MEETINGS AND WE DON'T SEE WHERE THE FUNDING IS GOING. WE DON'T SEE WHAT WE'LL SEE THE ACTUAL PLAN. IT'S JUST LIKE HAVING A HOUSE AND HAVING A LIVING ROOM IN

YOUR HOUSE. >> YOU MOVE AROUND STUFF THEN PUT TO THE KITCHEN MOVE SOME STUFF FROM THAT FROM THE KITCHEN AND YOU PUT YOU PUT IT IN THE GARAGE.

>> THAT'S WHAT THE CITIZENS OF BEEF COUNTIES. THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW. I FEEL THAT YOU JUST MOVING THEIR STUFF ALONG IN THE HOUSE WHEN WE ACTUALLY GOT A COUPLE OF CAR COMPANIES COMPOSITE PLANTS HAVE MEETINGS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SEE WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE FROM HERE TO AS WELL WHAT THEY WANT.

>> OH, HOW CAN WE SUSTAIN SOMEONE WHOSE CRIME RATE THAT IS GOING ON IN THIS COUNTY BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER IT'S GOING TO SAVE BEHIND THOSE GATES EITHER.

>> I'M PLEADING FOR YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO

DO TO SAVE OUR BABIES HERE AND BEFORE COUNTY PRIOR? >> I APPLAUD YOU FOR FOUGHT FOR MOVING MOVING THE SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET BUT THE SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET ANGOLA BECAUSE YOU ONLY GOT SOME MORE BE BUT SOME OF US SOME OF THEM STOLE MY LIVER AND WE HAVE TO EDUCATE THE ONES

THAT ARE HERE. >> HOW WE GONNA STORE HOW WE'RE GOING TO STOP SOME OF THESE BOMBS THAT IS GOING ON RIGHT HERE UNDER OUR NOSE EVERYONE THEN GULF EVERYONE CAN HAVE

THEM MOM MOVE THERE IN A HOME. >> EVERYONE DON'T HAVE CORRECT FUNDING TO TAKE THEIR PLACE.

THEY GET KIDS IN THEIR FAMILY PLACES. PLEASE, I URGE YOU LET'S STOP PUTTING THESE CASKETS IN THE GROUND. HOW CAN WE SAVE OUR YOUNG COMMUNITY AND OUR WORKING CLASS CITIZENS AND BEFORE COUNTY WHERE IS THAT MONEY?

HOW HAS THAT MONEY BEING SPENT ? >> THAT'S ALL I WANT TO KNOW.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.